Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior: 2026 Release ISE

Dr. Carl Hart is an Associate Professor in both the Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology at Columbia University and is also a Research Scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. A major focus of Dr. Hart’s research is to understand the complex interactions between neurobiological and environmental factors that mediate and modulate the actions of drugs of abuse, including drug-taking behaviour and cognitive performance. Dr. Hart’s research has been supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the past several years. In addition to his substantial research responsibilities, Dr. Hart teaches an undergraduate Drugs and Behaviour course and was recently awarded Columbia University’s highest teaching award. Charles Ksir received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington. Following his postdoctoral training in Neurobiology at the Worcester Foundation in Massachusetts, he began a 34-year career in teaching and research at the University of Wyoming, where he also served in a variety of administrative positions. Now a professor emeritus, he focuses his efforts on teaching and textbook writing. He has taught the psychology course Drugs and Behaviour to more than three thousand students since 1972 and has received several teaching awards.

• Section One Drug Use in Modern Society1 Drug Use: An Overview2 Drug Use as A Social Problem3 A History Of Drug Policy in the United StatesSection Two How Drugs Work4 The Nervous System5 The Actions of DrugsSection Three: Uppers And Downers6 Stimulants7 Depressants and Inhalants8 Medication for Mental DisordersSection Four Alcohol9 AlcoholSection Five Familiar Drugs10 Tobacco11 Caffeine12 Dietary Supplements and Over-The-Counter DrugsSection Six Restricted Drugs13 Opioids14 Psychedelics15 Cannabis16 Performance-Enhancing DrugsSection Seven Prevention and Harm Reduction17 Preventing Substance Abuse18 Treating Substance Use Disorders and Drug Policy AlternativesAppendix A Drug NamesAppendix B Resources For Information And AssistanceGlossaryIndex