Review by Mark Lee for Rating: Some folks reviewing this book don't seem to utndrsnaed the purpose for which the book was intended: This is a general consumer book with straight facts from Ph.D.s in pharmacology and chemistry on the most used and abused drugs. This isn't intended to be comprehensive. It it certainly isn't about grandstanding as some tool in the war on drugs. The motto in this book is Just say Know. The authors candidly observe, for example, that it's practically impossible to overdose on marijuana. There's no Reefer Madness in this text. And alcohol, caffeine and nicotine certainly qualify as abused drugs in this day and age. The substances that are covered include those above and Ecstasy (MDMA), various hallucinogens (LSD, mushrooms, peyote, etc.), so-called herbal drugs , various inhalants (nitrous oxide and psychotoxics), marijuana, opiates, sedatives in general and stimulants in general. The chapters on Drug Basics, Brain Basics and Legal Issues were straightforward and concise.I work principally in law enforcement and use this book along with the Drug Identification Bible as resource literature in helping local kids with presentations. One of the authors, Dr. Wilkie Wilson, has been a TV Dateline expert and wonderful spokesperson for being informed about the risks of drug use.