Table of Contents
Foreword 5
Introduction 7
Chapter 1 Are Synthetic Drugs Dangerous?
1 Synthetic Drugs Are Dangerous Joseph Lee 12
2 Mephedrone Ban Blamed for Rise in Cocaine Deaths Jeremy Laurance 18
3 Synthetic Marijuana Is Dangerous Marc Lallanilla 21
4 Authorities Should Avoid Overstating the Dangers of Synthetic Marijuana Sharda Sekaran 26
5 Molly: Pure, but Not So Simple Irina Aleksander 30
6 MDMA Can Have Some Benefits 38
7 New Synthetic Drugs Are a Growing Global Threat Fiona Harvey 43
8 Illicit Drug Use Is on the Decline Alan Travis 48
Chapter 2 Should Synthetic Drugs Be Used Therapeutically?
1 Ecstasy (MDMA) Is Effective in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder David P. Ball 54
2 Ecstasy (MDMA) Can Harm the Brain Fiona Macrae 59
3 Synthetic Medical Marijuana Is Safe and Effective 64
4 Synthetic Medical Marijuana Is Not as Effective as Smokable Marijuana Brian Montopoli 70
Chapter 3 What Is the Best Way to Prevent Synthetic Drug Abuse?
1 Synthetic Drugs Should Be Outlawed 76
2 Outlawing Drugs Is Counterproductive Christopher Soda 80
3 Synthetic Drug Trafficking Organizations Should Be Targeted and Arrested 84
4 Synthetic Drug Use Should Be Restricted to Adults Max Pemberton 91
5 A Vaccine Should Be Developed to Treat Methamphetamine Addiction 97
6 Legalizing Natural Marijuana Would Curb the Abuse of Synthetic Marijuana Diane Kearns-Carlstrom 103
7 High Society: Drugs Don't Liberate-Quite the Opposite Peter Hitchens 109
Facts About Synthetic Drugs 113
Organizations to Contact 116
For Further Reading 123
Index 128
Picture Credits 134
