Product Description

Amphetamines have had a relatively short, though chequered history. From their use in wartime, their abuse by the beat generation, up to the popularity of Ecstasy in the late 20th century, many have found amphetamines an enjoyable, though unpredictable, stimulant. More than that though, amphetamine-based treatments have been found to have beneficial effects for those suffering from attention deficit disorders, and are now widely prescribed in the US and elsewhere as a treatment for children and adults. What is the truth behind these medical claims? What are the real effects of stimulants like Ecstasy? Just how harmful are amphetamines? In this book, a leading authority on psychoactive drugs explores the uses and abuses of amphetamines. Starting with a look at the origins of amphetamines, their use in wartime, their use by poets, musicians - even a President of the US, it presents a fascinating and accessible account of amphetamine use. It examines the evidence for the claims that drugs like Ecstasy kill, and considers the widespread use of amphetamines for ADHD, presenting a thorough account based on science and fact, rather than dogma.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #439996 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 232 pages

Review
...a balanced analysis of the historical and contemporary use of amphetamines by diverse users, including those suffering from various medical conditions, professional cyclists, poets, musicians, single mothers and politicians... [and will be useful to] scientists, especially neuroscientists, and the wide range of practicing people, including social scientists, who have to deal with the problems caused by drug abuse. (Chemistry World )

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the use of amphetamine-like agents, such as Ritalin, in the treatment of attention deficit disorders as well as an interest in the continued abuse of drugs such as methamphetamine or ecstasy. (Doody's Journal )

Instead of indulging in the simplistic dichotomies that have plagued some writings on drugs-illegal versus legal, harmful versus benign, hedonistic use versus medical - he has produced something more sophisticated. This is an analysis of the historical and contemporary use of various amphetamines by geographically, socially and psychologically diverse users, including politicians, professional cyclists, single mothers and those suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - a world away from the one-dimensional addict of popular prejudice. (New Scientist )

Synopsis
Amphetamines have had a relatively short, though chequered history. From their use in wartime, their abuse by the beat generation, up to the popularity of Ecstasy in the late 20th century, many have found amphetamines an enjoyable, though unpredictable, stimulant. More than that though, amphetamine-based treatments have been found to have beneficial effects for those suffering from attention deficit disorders, and are now widely prescribed in the US and elsewhere as a treatment for children and adults. What is the truth behind these medical claims? What are the real effects of stimulants like Ecstasy? Just how harmful are amphetamines? In this book, a leading authority on psychoactive drugs explores the uses and abuses of amphetamines. Starting with a look at the origins of amphetamines, their use in wartime, their use by poets, musicians - even a President of the US, it presents a fascinating and accessible account of amphetamine use. It examines the evidence for the claims that drugs like Ecstasy kill, and considers the widespread use of amphetamines for ADHD, presenting a thorough account based on science and fact, rather than dogma.

Customer Reviews

A readable and useful review of a topical subject
As the title of this timely book alludes, Amphetamines occupy a curious position; on the one hand they are a commonly abused, potentially devastating class of substances, on the other, an increasingly popularly prescribed psychiatric medication.

Leslie Iversen is a Pharmacologist, and his book covers the mechanism of action of amphetamines, before going on to give a brief history of amphetamines, their medical uses, their abuse around the world, and their harmful effects, with a chapter devoted to ecstasy.

I found the description of the scandal surrounding the prescription of fenfluramine/phentermine for obesity in the '90s, leading to an upsurge in heart and lung problems, particularly fascinating, and a chilling model of what can go wrong when effective drug safety monitoring breaks down.

The writing is clear throughout, although the comprehensibility will depend somewhat on a reader's background; whilst the chapters on the history and medical uses of amphetamines are accessible to anyone, the chapters on pharmacology and harms are aimed more squarely at the professional reader.

The book is also very even-handed, acknowledging the potential benefits, as well as harms of amphetamines. I found the chapter on ecstasy interesting in relation to this; almost 20 years after its use exploded onto the UK drug scene, and after a lot of early exaggerated accounts of its danger, the conclusion here is that the jury is still out regarding long-term harm.

Overall I would strongly recommend this as a up-to-date review of a critical area for mental health professionals or those working in substance misuse services. The interested amateur reader will also find much that is interesting here, as long as they don't mind some in-depth science.

The definative work on amphetamines
As a worker in the substance misuse field, I have searched long and hard for a book on the amphetamines/stimulants - well I have found it in Iversen's book. It is (from my experience) well researched, contains many items of historical use, has a useful bibliography for each chapter, but most of all - was published in 2006!! ie it is up to date with current thinking about this field of stimulants. They are about to erupt onto the drug scene of the UK with a vengeance. I seem to be a prophet in the wilderness crying out that methylamphetamine is going to be the UK's No.1 public health problem very shortly - it is easily made from over the counter ingredients, and has lasting side effects, not the least of which is aggression - Iverson lists all these in his book and gives references to them.
This book is handily pitched between the interested amateur, and the professional working in the drug field. I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to these two groups.