Addiction Inbox

Book excerpt: What do we mean when we talk about addiction? This anthology of articles is designed to bring multiple perspectives to bear on that question, a pursuit made possible by the recent explosion of research on the scientific underpinnings of drug and alcohol addiction. In this collection of posts from the well-respected science blog, Addiction Inbox, you'll meet some of the researchers, and some of the new research. You'll learn about the new synthetic stimulant drugs now flooding American grey markets. And you'll hear about some of the best recent books on addiction and recovery. The articles cover health studies about drugs, addiction and alcoholism, including the most recent scientific and medical findings-plus interviews and book reviews. The Research section includes posts on a wide-ranging and controversial group of subjects, all related by an approach that highlights the underlying science and evidence-based medicine pertinent to the subject. Is shoplifting the opiate of the masses? Does menthol really matter? Can ketamine and other party drugs cause permanent bladder damage? For answers, the author looks to neuroscientists and addiction researchers, an approach that led to his earlier book, The Chemical Carousel: What Science Tells Us About Beating Addiction.