Overview

At least one third of Americans have used an illicit drug at least once. Drugs attract considerable attention in science, legislation, and the media. Nevertheless, people develop their attitudes about drugs and drug users based on limited information, government policies form without a complete picture of the intoxication experience, and researchers often find themselves divided into camps based on the drug they study most often, limited their ability to benefit from important work done on other drugs. A thorough and accessible review of the subjective effects of drugs and the dominant theories behind these effects will help inform readers about the experience of intoxication and help researchers learn from studies in other disciplines. This book will provide a clear sense of the theories and techniques behind the investigations of intoxication and how subjective experiences relate to addictive potential, which should help people make educated decision about drug use, help researchers identify ideal ways to assess a drug's subjective effects, and help clinicians understand their substance abusing clients better by providing insight into the intoxication that they seek.

Full Product Details

9780195165319

Table of Contents

Reviews

The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributors endeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, and genetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms are jointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originally discovered or developed for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh.. .the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES.. .I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review

<br> The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review<br> People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington<br> Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I

The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review<br> People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington<br> Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky<br> This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributors endeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, andgenetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction.<br> Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh<br> Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms are jointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originally discovered ordeveloped for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh<br> .,. the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES<br> .,. I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review<br>

The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effe

The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributors endeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, and genetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms are jointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originally discovered or developed for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh .. .the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES .. .I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributors endeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, andgenetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms are jointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originally discovered ordeveloped for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh .,. the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES .,. I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributorsendeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, and genetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms arejointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originally discovered or developed for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh , .. the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES , .. I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review The book is interesting, offering new perspectives on drug addiction. --Doody's book Review People are attracted to drug use for many reasons, chief among them being how various substances affect our feelings and thoughts. This book provides unique descriptions and related research about the subjective effects of both licit and illicit drugs and how certain vary in their risk level for addiction (gender and ethnic differences). I highly recommend Mind-Altering Drugs for professionals in both the research and treatment fields. --G. Alan Marlatt, Professor and Director, Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Dr. Earleywine's latest book on substance abuse provides a provocative perspective on the effects of drugs. Working with a group of experts with varying experimental and philosophical approaches, he has produced an insightful, direct, humorous and highly readable overview of the controversial issue of subjective effects. I recommend the book to all who want to better understand the interactive role of biology, expectations, environmental context, drug type and drug dose on any reported (subjective) drug effect. --Sara Jo Nixon, Professor & Director, Neurocognitive Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky This remarkable work takes on the task of categorizing subjective experiences of drug use. These drugs include not only illicit drugs but also alcohol, cigarettes, and even antidepressants, as well as non-drug experiences, such as biofeedback. In their efforts to categorize these experiences, a distinguished array of contributors endeavors to understand gender, personality, contextual, and genetic (among other) influences, and the impact of these experiences on use patterns, both positive and negative. In a field that often leaves out the crucial human dimension to drug use and abuse, Mind-Altering Drugs takes the field one level higher. Any work on human responses to drug use will, from this point on, have to stand on the back of this monumental work. --Stanton Peele, Author of Love and Addiction, The Meaning of Addiction, and 7 Tools to Beat Addiction. Understanding the effects of drugs on subjective experience is essential for discovering why people choose to use drugs. This is not a new idea, but has proven to ben an elusive concept to study. Earleywine has assembled a group of first-rate scientists whose own research informs many of the chapters. The volume provides an up-to-date, comprehensive, and readable account of what is known about subjective drug effects (both positive and negative), and thus is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians. The chapters allow the evidence to dictate conclusions and not the other way around, as is often the case in the controversial domains of drug research and policy. What emerges is a complex pattern of effects that help explain both the allure and the hazards of drug use. --Michael Sayette, Professor of Psychology and Director, Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive and updated discussions critically evaluate the psychological experiences promoting habitual alcohol and drug consumption. Individual vulnerability characteristics and neuropharmacological mechanisms are jointly discussed to answer the age-old question regarding why chemicals originallydiscovered or developed for therapeutic value are voluntarily used and abused for their subjective effects. This is an excellent compendium of this key facet of etiology. --Ralph E. Tarter, Director, Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, and Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh ,. .the book is well written and informative...This volume will appeal to and be received well by researchers, clinicians, and interested students and professionals. It makes a nice contribution to our growing knowledge about the effects of mind-altering drugs. --PsycCRITIQUES ,. .I would recommend this book to those involved in research or clinical work with mind-altering substances. --Drug and Alcohol Review

Author Information

"Mitch Earleywine is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Southern California, where he teaches drugs and human behavior, substance abuse treatment and clinical research methods. He has received 10 teaching commendations, including the coveted General Education Teaching Award. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1990. His research has been funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as well as the Alcoholic Beverage Medical Research Foundation. He serves on the editorial boards of three psychology journals, reviews for over a dozen, and has more than fifty publications on drug use and abuse, including Understanding Marijuana (Oxford University Press 2002). He is also Resident Faculty in Parkside International Residential College. He has been quoted in The San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Nation. He has also appeared on National Public Radio's ""Talk of the Nation"" and ""Weekend Editon""."

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