Main description:

The second edition of the formerly titled Just Say Know: A Counsellor's Guide to Psychoactive Drugs, this indispensable counselling resource provides a practical understanding of psychoactive drug pharmacology and physiology. Rick Csiernik unpacks the risks and therapeutic applications of the most commonly used and misused drug families, including depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and psychotherapeutics. This new edition features a wide range of updated research and content addressing the recent rise of opioid, fentanyl, cannabis, novel psychoactive substances, and antipsychotic medication use, as well as the impacts of drug use on sleep and mental health. Two new appendixes are featured summarizing the effects of drugs on pregnancy and interactions drugs may have with certain brain chemicals.

The Essential Guide to Psychoactive Drugs in Canada is the perfect addition to any addiction or mental health-related course. User-friendly and highly readable, this resource serves as a guide for service providers to deliver evidence-based care. This text is crucial for counsellors, therapists, instructors, and students looking to acquire an in-depth practical understanding of drug use, medication, and addiction in disciplines such as social work, sociology, pharmacology, health studies, nursing, psychology, and addiction studies.

FEATURES:

includes quizzes, learning activities, and case studiesfeatures two new appendixes with additional learning materials
uses accessible language suitable for second-year college and first-year undergraduate courses

Contents:

Preface
Chapter 1 Pharmacological Principles
Understanding Addiction
Psychoactive Drug Groups
The Costs of Psychoactive Drug Use
The Nervous System
Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Sleeping and Dreaming
Chapter 2 Depressants
2.1 Sedative-Hypnotics
2.2 Antihistamines
2.3 Inhalants, Solvents, and Anaesthetic Gases
2.4 Alcohol
2.5 Opioids
Chapter 3 Stimulants
3.1 Cocaine
3.2 Amphetamine and Methamphetamine
3.3 Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)
3.4 Anorexiants
3.5 Decongestants
3.6 Khat (Qat)
3.7 Methylendioxypyrovalerone (Bath Salts)
3.8 Betel/Areca Nut
3.9 Nicotine
3.10 Caffeine
Chapter 4 Hallucinogens
4.1 Hallucinogens
4.2 LSD-Like Hallucinogens: Indolealkylamine
4.3 Mescaline-Like Hallucinogens: Phenylethylamines
4.4 Dissociative Anaesthetics: Arylcycloalkylamines
4.5 Cannabis
4.6 Novel Psychoactive Substances
Chapter 5 Psychotherapeutic Agents
5.1 Antidepressants
5.2 Antipsychotics
5.3 Mood Stabilizers
Appendix A: Which Neurotransmitters Does a Psychoactive Drug Alter?
Appendix B: Summary of Effects of Psychoactive Drug Consumption During Pregnancy
References
Index