The two authors of Cannabis Use and Dependence have extensive experience in the area of drug consumption and policy. Wayne Hall is the director of the Office of Public Policy and Ethics at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Australia, and Rosalie Liccardo Pacula is an economist with the RAND Corporation and a research fellow with the United States National Bureau of Economic Research.
Figure 1.
Wayne Hall, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Cambridge University Press, ¶40/$65, pp 298 ISBN 0521 80024 2
Rating: ★★★
Their book, which focuses on recreational, not medical, use of the drug, addresses a broad range of issues relating to cannabis, providing a comprehensive summary of current knowledge. It is a suitable reference work for those interested in the effects of cannabis and/or policy related issues.
The first part focuses on the effects of cannabis, describing the psychopharmacology of the drug (the effects of cannabis that users seek, its psychoactive constituents, mechanisms of action, doses and modes of administration) and the patterns of its use in developed societies such as the United States, Europe, and Australia. The authors present research findings on the acute and chronic effects of cannabis on the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and reproductive systems, on motivation and cognitive function, and on the risk of psychosis. They also examine the impact of the drug on adolescent development and compare the harms and benefits of cannabis with those of alcohol and tobacco.
The second part of the book focuses on cannabis policies and issues such as whether prohibition has any deterrent effect on use and supply. The authors include international data and provide a balanced presentation of the existing literature.
Young People and Substance Misuse is aimed at a wide audience, including youth workers, social workers, and teachers, as well as health professionals. It takes a multidisciplinary approach to youth substance misuse, providing an overview of research on universal and targeted prevention strategies, including those that focus on drug use and those that are broader in their approach, aiming, for instance, to improve life skills.
Figure 2.
Eds Ilana Crome, Hamid Ghodse, Eilish Gilvarry, Paul McArdle
Gaskell (Royal College of Psychiatrists), ¶15, pp 240 ISBN 1 904671 01 2
Rating: ★★★
Chapters helpful to clinicians include that on the assessment of the young person, which provides a protocol for history taking and an overview of key points such as adolescent development, the assessment of family and education, and the reliability of self report. There is also a list of the symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal from the most commonly used substances.
Although this book is primarily directed at a UK audience, especially the chapter on the epidemiology of substance misuse, international readers would also benefit from its clear and succinct overview.