Preface

Education is the most powerful tool an individual can have when facing decisions about drug use. The U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances puts clear, comprehensive, and current information on fifty-two drugs at readers' fingertips. The set was designed with middle-school students in mind but can serve as a useful resource for readers of all ages. Each of the entries in this five-volume encyclopedia offers insights into the history, usage trends, and effects of a specific drug or addictive substance.

What Does "Addiction" Mean?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's NIDA InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction, dated March 2005, drug addiction is more than just "a lot of drug use." The term "addiction" is described as:

  • an overpowering desire, craving, or need to take a certain drug
  • a willingness to obtain the drug by any means
  • a tendency to keep increasing the dose that is consumed
  • a psychological and/or physical dependence on the effects of the drug
  • an inability to stop using the drug without treatment
  • an illness that has harmful effects on the individual and on society.

What Can Readers Expect to Find in This Encyclopedia?

Every entry in the U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances has been painstakingly researched and is based on data from the latest government and university studies on the use and abuse of drugs and other addictive substances. In fact, the results of certain studies were first released to the public while this project was being researched. We are pleased to be able to pass along to readers some of the most up-to-date information on drug use available as this project went to press.

Please note that every effort has been made to secure the most recent information available. Readers should bear in mind that many major studies take years to conduct. Also, several additional years may pass before the data from these studies are made available to the public. As such, in some cases, the most recent information available in 2005 dated from 2001 or 2002. We've presented older statistics as well if they are of particular interest and no more recent data exist.

Some of the substances profiled in the U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances are legal. Examples of legal—but nevertheless addictive—substances are caffeine, nicotine, and certain over-the-counter medications. Many other substances described in this set are illicit, or illegal. Drugs that fall into this category include cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), and heroin, among many others.

One of the leading concerns of the late 1990s and early 2000s was the spike in methamphetamine abuse. Methamphetamine, or "meth," is a highly addictive drug that can kill. It is interesting to note that methamphetamine is available by prescription for a limited number of medical uses. However, the bulk of the illicit meth that is sold on the streets is smuggled in from Mexico or manufactured by so-called "bathtub chemists" in the United States. This nickname is given to amateur drug makers working in illegal, makeshift labs. These drug makers are out to make a quick buck. They produce their drugs as cheaply as possible, often adding other dangerous substances or filler ingredients to their homemade concoctions. The risks involved in making and taking laboratory-produced mind-altering substances are discussed at length in this encyclopedia.

The Coining of a Brand-New Term: "Generation Rx"

Among the most notable trends in drug use during the first five years of the twenty-first century was the growing abuse of two types of substances: 1) inhalants, including glue, nitrous oxide, and spray paint, and 2) prescription drugs, especially painkillers and stimulants. Drugs such as oxycodone (OxyContin), Adderall, and methylphenidate (Ritalin) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for legitimate uses when prescribed by a physician. Increasingly, however, these drugs have made their way from home medicine cabinets to schools and dance clubs. Because of the sizable increase in prescription drug abuse among young people, the term "Generation Rx" is frequently used to describe the teens of the early 2000s.

The magnitude of inhalant and prescription drug abuse problems first became apparent with the release of the 2004 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study results. MTF is a survey of drug use and attitudes conducted by the University of Michigan with funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). In late April of 2005, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America released its 2004 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS). At that time, the extent of Vicodin abuse, in particular, became apparent. Vicodin is the brand name of the prescription painkiller hydrocodone. To ensure that information on this growing Vicodin trend was available to readers of this encyclopedia, we have included an informative sidebar and other information on the drug within the Meperidine entry. Please consult the master index for a complete list of pages that address the topic of Vicodin.

Format

The U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances is arranged alphabetically by drug name over five volumes. Each entry follows a standard format and includes the following sections:

  • What Kind of Drug Is It?
  • Overview
  • What Is It Made Of?
  • How Is It Taken?
  • Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?
  • Usage Trends
  • Effects on the Body
  • Reactions with Other Drugs or Substances
  • Treatment for Habitual Users
  • Consequences
  • The Law
  • For More Information

Each entry also includes the official drug name, a list of street or alternative names for the drug, and the drug's classification according to the U.S. government's Controlled Substances Act (1970). Important glossary terms are highlighted in the text in small caps with the definitions of the words appearing in the margin.

Features

All entries contain informative sidebars on historical, social, legal, and/or statistical aspects of the drugs. This encyclopedia contains nearly 200 sidebars. In addition, the encyclopedia features more than 300 graphics, including black and white photos, maps, tables, and other illustrations.

The U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances also includes:

  • Alternative Drug Names guide. As most students recognize drugs by their common rather than official names, this guide to street and other alternative names points students to the correct entry name.
  • Chronology. This section presents important historical moments in the history of drugs, from the discovery of dried peyote buttons in c. 5000 BCE to the withdrawal of the prescription drug Palladone in 2005.
  • Words to Know. This master glossary defines difficult terms to help students with words that are unfamiliar to them.
  • Color insert. Included in each volume, the insert visually informs readers about various drug topics discussed in the set, such as natural sources of drugs, herbal and dietary supplements, older illicit drugs, prescription drugs, public service announcement posters, and the rave culture.
  • Highlights of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. This section discusses the various drug schedules created by the U.S. government and what they mean.
  • Where to Learn More. This bibliography presents important sources (books, periodicals, Web sites, and organizations) where more information on drugs and addictive substances can be obtained.
  • Cumulative Index. The master index points readers to topics covered in all five volumes of the encyclopedia.

Special Thanks

Various individuals are to be thanked for aiding in the creation of the U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances. These include the following writers and editors: Pamela Willwerth Aue, Denise Evans, Joan Goldsworthy, Margaret Haerens, Anne Johnson, Jane Kelly Kosek, Mya Nelson, Diane Sawinski, and Les Stone.

In addition, special thanks go out to the project's advisory board members. Thomson Gale would like to express its appreciation to the following board members for their time and valuable contributions:

  • Carol M. Keeler, Media Specialist, Detroit Country Day Upper School, Beverly Hills, Michigan
  • Nina Levine, Library Media Specialist, Blue Mountain Middle School, Cortlandt Manor, New York
  • Toni Thole, Health Educator, Vicksburg Middle School, Vicksburg, Michigan
  • Susan Vanneman, NBPTS, Robin Mickle Middle School, Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, Nebraska

Comments and Suggestions

We welcome your comments on the U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances and suggestions for other topics to consider. Please write: Editors, U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances, Thomson Gale, 27500 Drake Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535; call toll free: 1-800-877-4253; fax to 248-699-8097; or send e-mail via http://www.gale.com.