Full Description
The Essential Guide to Psychoactive Drugs in Canada, Third Edition provides a practical understanding of psychoactive drug pharmacology and physiology, accessibly unpacking the risks and therapeutic applications of the most commonly used and misused drug families, including depressants, opioids, stimulants, hallucinogens, and psychotherapeutics. Rick Csiernik demystifies the misuse of prescription compounds, as well as drugs that are new to North American communities such as captagon, xylazine, and nitazene.
This third edition continues the work of the previous editions, featuring thoroughly updated references as well as new boxes focusing on key contemporary pharmacological issues including differences in opioid versus stimulant overdose, e-cigarettes and vaping, psychedelic assisted therapy, microdosing, and Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol. The appendices are expanded to include an easy-to-read summary of the effects of active drug use and withdrawal as well as the effects of psychoactive drugs on adolescents and seniors.
Light on jargon and heavy on evidence, The Essential Guide to Psychoactive Drugs in Canada supplies the blueprints that every service provider needs to dispense sound, evidence-based care and is an ideal resource for counsellors, therapists, instructors, and students looking to acquire an in-depth practical understanding of drug use, medication, and addiction.
Contents
Tables, Figures, and Boxes
Preface
Chapter 1: Pharmacological Principles
1.1 Understanding Addiction
1.2 Psychoactive Drug Groups
1.3 The Nervous System
1.4 Pharmacokinetics
1.5 Pharmacodynamics
1.6 Sleeping and Dreaming
1.7 Learning Activities
Chapter 2: Depressants
2.1 Sedative-Hypnotics
2.2 Antihistamines
2.3 Inhalants, Solvents, and Anaesthetic Gases
2.4 Alcohol
2.5 Opioids
2.6 Opioid Antagonists
2.7 Learning Activities
Chapter 3: Stimulants
3.1 Cocaine
3.2 Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
3.3 Fenethylline (Captagon) 3.4 Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)
3.5 Anorexiants
3.6 Decongestants
3.7 Khat (Qat)
3.8 Methylendioxypyrovalerone (Bath Salts)
3.9 Betel/Areca Nut
3.10 Nicotine
3.11 Caffeine
3.12 Learning Activities
Chapter 4: Hallucinogens
4.1 LSD-Like Hallucinogens: Indolealkylamine
4.2 Mescaline-Like Hallucinogens: Phenylethylamines
4.3 Dissociative Anaesthetics: Arylcycloalkylamines
4.4 Cannabis
4.5 Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)
4.6 Learning Activities
Chapter 5: Psychotherapeutic Agents
5.1 Antidepressants
5.2 Antipsychotics
5.3 Mood Stabilizers
5.4 Learning Activities
Appendix A: Which Neurotransmitters Does a Psychoactive Drug Alter?
Appendix B: Summary of Psychoactive Drug Active and Withdrawal Affects
Appendix C: Summary of Effects of Psychoactive Drug Consumption During Pregnancy
Appendix D: Summary of Effects of Psychoactive Drug Consumption on Adolescents
Appendix E: Summary of Effects of Psychoactive Drug Consumption on Seniors
References
Copyright Acknowledgements
Index
