The American Drug Scene: An Anthology / Edition 6

by James A. Inciardi, Karen McElrath

Overview

Now in its sixth edition, The American Drug Scene, edited by James A. Inciardi and Karen McElrath, is a collection of contemporary and classic articles on the changing patterns, problems, perspectives, and policies of legal and illicit drug use. Offering a unique focus on the social contexts in which drug usage, drug-related problems, and drug policies occur, it presents theoretical and descriptive material drawn from both ethnographic and quantitative sources.

The American Drug Scene, Sixth Edition, features forty-two selections that cover all abused drugs—amphetamines and methamphetamines, opiates, marijuana, cocaine and crack, hallucinogens, and "club drugs"—as well as such legal substances as alcohol, tobacco, and prescription drugs. Other topics include gender and addiction; cross-cultural research into drug use; the relationship between drugs, violence, and street crime; the symbolic meaning of drug taking; injection drug use; the social construction of drug problems and moral panics; prevention and treatment; and the drug legalization debate.

The sixth edition includes thirteen new articles that address recent and emerging patterns of drug use and policy debates, including crystal methamphetamine abuse among gay men; MDMA/ecstasy and the club scene; anabolic steroid use by bodybuilders; medical marijuana; prescription opiate abuse; the relatively recent use of khat in the U.S.; and salvia divinorum use among college students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199739295
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/12/2010
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

James Inciardi (1939-2009) was Director of the Center for Drug and Alcohol Studies and Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware.

Karen McElrath is Reader in the School of Sociology, Social Policy, and Social Work at Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland.

Editorial Reviews

"This is one of the only readers out there for teaching about drugs, drug use, and abuse through a sociological lens; therefore, I consider it to be a key text in the teaching of material in this field. I know of no other book that does what this book does, or offers what it offers; it occupies a special niche in this field."—Angel Hoekstra, University of Colorado at Boulder

"The American Drug Scene is one of the best general anthologies for undergraduate and graduate students in the field of addiction-ology. The text is sufficiently broad in its coverage of important, contemporary topics, and each chapter is scholarly and readable."—Tim Davidson, University of Oklahoma

"This has been a tremendous book for my students. It is one of the rare anthologies that isn't 'preachy' or juvenile in its tone."—Catherine Marrone, Stony Brook University, State University of New York

"The approach of the editors is to paint a clear picture of the reality of the drug scene in America, and their goal is accomplished with much skill and precision."—Joe L. Nedelec, Truman State University

From the Publisher

Nearly 40 articles survey the drug scene as currently portrayed in major media, including a few arguments for legalization to balance the many rehearsings of crime and disease. One section covers alcohol, tobacco, and legal medications. One article is reprinted from the crusade to ban marijuana in the 1930s. Discussion questions at the end of each suggest a classroom audience. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews