ISBN: 9780199957972

"Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemicalsubstance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains ofpoppies have been found in Ne… Mehr…

"Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemicalsubstance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains ofpoppies have been found in Neolithic tombs, it is the most effectivedrug ever discovered for treating pain. "Whatever advances are made inmedicine," Miller adds, "nothing could really be more important thanthat." And yet, when it comes to mind-altering substances, morphine isonly a cc or two in a vast river that flows through human civilization,ranging LSD to a morning cup of tea.In DRUGGED, Miller takesreaders on an eye-opening tour of psychotropic drugs, describingthe various kinds, how they were discovered and developed, and how theyhave played multiple roles in virtually every culture. The vast scope ofchemicals that cross the blood-brain barrier boggle the very brain theyreach: cannabis and cocaine, antipsychotics and antidepressants,alcohol, amphetamines, and Ecstasy-and much more. Literate andwide-ranging, Miller weaves together science and history, telling thestory of the undercover theft of 20,000 tea plants from China by aBritish spy, for example, the European discovery of coffee andchocolate, and how James Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous man of letters,first isolated the alkaloid we now know as caffeine. Miller explainswhat scientists know-and don't-about the impact of each drug on thebrain, down to the details ofneurotransmitters and their receptors. He clarifies the differencesbetween morphine and heroin, mescaline and LSD, and other similarsubstances. Drugged brims with surprises, revealing the fact thatantidepressant drugs evolved from the rocket fuel that shot V2 rocketsinto London during World War II, highlighting the role of hallucinogensin the history of religion, and asking whether Prozac can help depressedcats.Entertaining and authoritative, Drugged is a truly fascinating book.Readership: Membersof the general public interested in the nature and origins ofpsychotropic drugs; academics working in medicine and medical research;members of the pharmaceutical industry; doctors and otherhealth care professionals; undergraduate, graduate and medical students. Drugged: The Science and Culture Behind Psychotropic Drugs Miller, Richard J., Oxford University Press Inc<

ISBN: 0199957975

Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemical substance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains of poppies have been found in Neolithic tombs, it i… Mehr…

Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemical substance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains of poppies have been found in Neolithic tombs, it is the most effective drug ever discovered for treating pain. "Whatever advances are made in medicine,"Miller adds, "nothing could really be more important than that." And yet, when it comes to mind-altering substances, morphine is only a cc or two in a vast river that flows through human civilization, ranging LSD to a morning cup of tea.In Drugged, Miller takes readers on an eye-opening tour of psychotropic drugs, describing the various kinds, how they were discovered and developed, and how they have played multiple roles in virtually every culture. The vast scope of chemicals that cross the blood-brain barrier boggle the verybrain they reach: cannabis and cocaine, antipsychotics and antidepressants, alcohol, amphetamines, and Ecstasy - and much more. Literate and wide-ranging, Miller weaves together science and history, telling the story of the undercover theft of 20,000 tea plants from China by a British spy, for example, the European discovery of coffee and chocolate, and how James Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous man of letters, first isolatedthe alkaloid we now know as caffeine. Miller explains what scientists know - and don't - about the impact of each drug on the brain, down to the details of neurotransmitters and their receptors. He clarifies the differences between morphine and heroi basic sciences,clinical,health fitness and dieting,history,medical,medical books,medicine,medicine and health sciences,pain medicine,pharmacology Pharmacology, Oxford University Press, Incorporated<

ISBN: 0199957975

Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemical substance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains of poppies have been found in Neolithic tombs, it i… Mehr…

Morphine," writes Richard J. Miller, "is the most significant chemical substance mankind has ever encountered." So ancient that remains of poppies have been found in Neolithic tombs, it is the most effective drug ever discovered for treating pain. "Whatever advances are made in medicine," Miller adds, "nothing could really be more important than that." And yet, when it comes to mind-altering substances, morphine is only a cc or two in a vast river that flows through human civilization, ranging LSD to a morning cup of tea.In DRUGGED, Miller takes readers on an eye-opening tour of psychotropic drugs, describing the various kinds, how they were discovered and developed, and how they have played multiple roles in virtually every culture. The vast scope of chemicals that cross the blood-brain barrier boggle the very brain they reach: cannabis and cocaine, antipsychotics and antidepressants, alcohol, amphetamines, and Ecstasy-and much more. Literate and wide-ranging, Miller weaves together science and history, telling the story of the undercover theft of 20,000 tea plants from China by a British spy, for example, the European discovery of coffee and chocolate, and how James Wolfgang von Goethe, the famous man of letters, first isolated the alkaloid we now know as caffeine. Miller explains what scientists know-and don't-about the impact of each drug on the brain, down to the details of neurotransmitters and their receptors. He clarifies the differences between morphine and basic sciences,clinical,health fitness and dieting,history,medical,medical books,medicine,medicine and health sciences,pain medicine,pharmacology Pharmacology, Oxford University Press<