"Drug Use: A Reference Handbook" presents a vast collection of facts and information about the major issues that drive the world's never-ending drug problem. An examination of five substances--tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine--presents eye-opening facts about their relationship to politics, policies, big business, and war.

Historical overviews and descriptions of the makeup and effects of each drug--such as the derivation of heroin from the opium poppy--segue into an analysis of the risk factors, patterns, and controversies regarding their use. Biographies profile key...