Office of Alcohol, Drug, and Health Education
Marijuana And Other Drugs
Because research constantly provides new information about most drugs, current journal articles and legitimate web sites are often the best sources for up-to-date facts. Caution should be used, however, when checking web sites because many contain one-sided views, and others post blatantly incorrect information. The best web sites are, often those which are not trying to sell a product or promote a cause. Some suggested sites are Duke University, Addiction Research Foundation, Columbia University, Do It Now (for reasonably objective brochures), and Rutgers University. to name just a few. While web sites such as High Times may be fun to look at, please be aware that the views are often slanted. Also, many of the government and prevention agencies can be biased as well.
Many excellent books and references are also available, and, again, those published by universities or medical schools are usually best. One factual and objective book is Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs. The authors are faculty members at the Duke University Medical School. A book recommended by Dr. Susan Kennedy of the Psychology Department is Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A review of the scientific evidence. (Dr. Kennedy's course, Psychopharmacology, provides a thorough examination of drugs and their effects. The course begins with an intensive overview of the ways in which psychoactive drugs work, followed by the use of drugs in the treatment of psychological disorders, and finally, recreational drug use is examined. Issues of drugs, society and behavior are emphasized throughout the course.)
Anyone thinking of taking an illegal drug should consider, among other things, the risk of contaminant. In fact, assuming that a designer drug contains some type of unhealthy adulterant is probably best because illegal drugs are processed in non-secure non-sterile labs. Drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, and others are rarely produced according to a specific chemical formula, but rather, the ingredients are determined by the manufacturer. Also, because simply possessing such drugs is illegal, the risk of arrest must always be considered.