We have all felt it, and we probably agree that of all the sensations we
are capable of experiencing, pain is our least favorite. Sometimes it’s
a shooting pain, like when we step barefoot on a nail or accidentally
bite our tongue. Sometimes it comes on very slowly and lingers for
hours or days, like a bad sunburn. Or it might hurt only when we
move a part of our body, like after we pull a hamstring or sprain an
ankle. Still other times, such as during a migraine, the pain comes
and goes, with days, weeks, or months between episodes; when it
does come, it leaves us almost incapable of functioning. Read the rest of this entry »

Methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin® and Concerta®) is a stimulant drug
prescribed to treat hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in
millions of American children. Methylphenidate was first synthesized
in the mid-1940s in Europe. In the United States, it was
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1955.
The effects of methylphenidate in the human body are almost
identical to those of the amphetamines. Amphetamines—the
collective name for levoamphetamine (Benzedrine), dextroamphetamine
(Dexedrine®), and methamphetamine (Methedrine or
“speed”)—are known to be potent psychomotor stimulants. Read the rest of this entry »

This book examines the many kinds of sleep aids in use—from over-the-counter and
herbal products to powerful prescriptions drugs—and shows how they affect the
body in the long and short term. Read the rest of this entry »

Hundreds of species of plants contain the chemical substances we
call hallucinogens, and have been altering the thoughts, moods,
and perceptions of animals and people all over the world for
thousands of years. A hallucinogen user may “see” a song, “hear”
purple, or hold seemingly coherent conversations with family pets
or house plants. A minute can feel like hours, and hours can feel like
seconds. A user might become intrigued by a piece of furniture that
appears to walk about the dining room, a wall that seems to
breathe, or a rainbow of colors that appears streaming from his or
her outstretched hand. Read the rest of this entry »

Since the dawn of competitive sports, athletes have used enhancement
drugs and methods to increase their performance and reach artificially
heightened levels of athleticism. Although the past century has
seen increased regulation and testing for enhancement drugs, it has
also seen an equally increased level of use. Today, enhancement drugs
are used all over the world, at all levels of sport, from high school
athletics to the highest rungs of Olympic competition. These drugs,
however, have gone beyond their traditional role as artificial aids for
athletes. They are now used by teenagers and adults alike to increase
energy, lose weight, and achieve better-looking physiques. This trend
has been reinforced by a society that places an extremely high value
on “being number one” and having a “perfect body.” The trend of
body enhancement drug use for sports, however, although it seems
to be escalating exponentially, is far from new.
Read the rest of this entry »