Why are some drugs highly addictive? What exactly are the effects of different types of psychoactive drugs? How can they produce such dramatic effects on mood, cognition, sensation, awareness, health and well-being? Understanding Drugs and Behaviour describes in detail how the main psychoactive drugs can alter brain chemistry and modify behaviour. Written by experienced lecturers with a high level of research expertise, all the main drugs used in today’s society are included, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, LSD and Ecstacy, opiates, CNS stimulants, as well as clinical medications.
 Teaching and learning features include:
- Chapter overviews     
- In-depth core material   
- End of chapter questions   
- Key references
- Extensive glossary     
- Journals and websites of interest
 This introductory text will be of use to students of psychology, behavioural sciences, health sciences, nursing, physiology and pharmacology.
About the authors ix
Preface xi
Part I Drugs and Their Actions 1
1 Psychoactive drugs: introduction and overview 3
2 The brain, neurons and neurotransmission 9
3 Principles of drug action 25
Part II Non-medical Use of Psychoactive Drugs 39
4 CNS stimulants: amphetamine, cocaine and caffeine 41
5 Nicotine and cigarette smoking 55
6 LSD and Ecstasy/MDMA 71
7 Cannabis 85
8 Heroin and opiates 103
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