Main description:

The dangers of illegal drugs are well known and rarely disputed, but how harmful are alcohol and tobacco by comparison? What are we missing by banning medical research into magic mushrooms, LSD and cannabis? Can they be sources of valuable treatments?

The second edition of Drugs without the hot air looks at the science to allow anyone to make rational decisions based on objective evidence, asking:

*What is addiction? Is there an addictive personality?

*What is the role of cannabis in treating epilepsy?

*How harmful is vaping?

*How can psychedelics treat depression?

*Where is the opioid crisis taking us?

Contents:

Preface

Chapter 1. Why I had to write this book

Chapter 2. Is ecstasy more dangerous than horse riding?

Chapter 3. How can we measure the harms done by drugs?

Chapter 4. Why do people take drugs?

Chapter 5. Cannabis, from the medicine of Queens to public enemy number one?

Chapter 6. Synthetic cannabinoids - the problem of "spice"

Chapter 7. If alcohol were discovered today, would it be legal?

Chapter 8. "Meow meow" - should mephedrone have been banned?

Chapter 9. What is addiction? Is there an "addictive personality"?

Chapter 10. Can addiction be cured?

Chapter 11. Cocaine - from chewing to crack

Chapter 12. Why was smoking banned in public places?

Chapter 13. Vaping and snus - to vape or not to vape?

Chapter 14. Prescription drugs; the US opioid crisis

Chapter 15. Can drugs improve physical and mental performance?

Chapter 16. Psychedelics, and their use in treating depression

Chapter 17. The War on Drugs, and drugs in war

Chapter 18. NPS - novel psychoactive substances

Chapter 19. The future of drugs

Chapter 20. What should I tell my kids about drugs?