Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior: The Pharmacology of Abuse and Dependence

by John Brick, Carlton K. Erickson

In this book you will explore the brain and see what happens when drugs affect its functions. Filled with an array of useful definitions and amazing historic discoveries about the nervous system, this book will bring you up to speed on the brain/behavior relationship, basic neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and the mechanistic actions of mood-altering drugs, including alcohol, marijuana, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, cocaine, and opiates. Interspersed with original eye-catching illustrations, Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior provides the same type of captivating instruction found in Dr. Brick's highly successful courses. Its clear-cut organization and topical “info-phrases” invite reader dialogue. Unlike most pharmacology-related texts, this book is written by scientists who work in the field of alcohol and drug studies and who share with you their vast, practical experiences in the clinical as well as pharmacological issues surrounding drug abuse and dependence. Specifically, you'll read The brain is a fascinating organ--even more fascinating when we consider how readily certain mood-altering drugs can cause us to veer into all kinds of different behavioral paths. Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior is a unique balance of insightful instruction, useful charts, and easy-to-use tables and formulas that will give you a broad, lasting introduction to this intriguing subject. Whether you're a nurse, chemical dependency counselor, psychologist, or clinician, this book will be a quick reference guide long after the first reading.

Genres: Psychology

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 1998

Reviews

[Sarah O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I picked this up in order to get a psychopharmachology credit for counseling. It's informative without being too boring.

[Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read, quite introductory and light on the neurophysiology which makes it a fun read when tired but a little less useful when trying to understand the psychopharmacology to a higher level.

[Lorenzo Salvador · Rating 5 out of 5]

This essential textbook, Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior: The Pharmacology of Drug Use Disorders by John Brick, firmly establishes its genre as Psychopharmacology and Medical/Behavioral Science, thoroughly exploring the profound and complex themes of substance use disorders, neurobiology, and the mechanisms of addiction. The material's primary strength lies in its clear, evidence-based characterization of various psychoactive drug classes and their action on the central nervous system, effectively making the brain itself the central, engaging "character" through its clear illustrations and detailed explanations of neuroanatomical and neurophysiological concepts. Brick's academic yet accessible writing style expertly translates complex pharmacological processes—from pharmacokinetics to the nuanced actions of mood-altering drugs—into a digestible format, blending instructional text with practical clinical and forensic context, making this volume highly recommendable for students, clinicians, and anyone seeking a definitive, science-based understanding of the devastating yet treatable relationship between drugs, the brain, and human behavior.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

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