How to Get a Free Copy of Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society - A Guide
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society download pdf
If you are interested in learning more about the controversial and complex issues related to drugs and society, you might want to read the book Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society by Raymond Goldberg. This book presents different perspectives on various topics related to drug use, abuse, policy, and prevention. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what the book is about, why it is relevant for today's society, and how you can download it for free.
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society download pdf
Introduction
What is the book about?
Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society is a collection of essays that explore different aspects of drug-related issues. The book is divided into four parts, each containing four or five essays that present opposing viewpoints on a specific question. The questions cover topics such as drug legalization, drug addiction, drug testing, drug education, drug treatment, drug enforcement, and drug harm reduction. The essays are written by experts from various fields, such as sociology, psychology, medicine, law, politics, and journalism. The book also provides an introduction to each issue, a postscript that summarizes the main arguments, and a list of suggested readings for further research.
Why is it relevant for today's society?
Drugs are a major social problem that affects millions of people around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were an estimated 271 million people who used drugs in 2017, of which 35 million suffered from drug use disorders. Drug use can have negative consequences for individuals, families, communities, and societies. Some of these consequences include health problems, crime, violence, poverty, stigma, discrimination, human rights violations, and environmental damage. Therefore, it is important to understand the causes and effects of drug use, as well as the possible solutions to address it.
How can you download it for free?
If you want to read Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society, you don't have to buy it from a bookstore or an online retailer. You can download it for free from various websites that offer free ebooks. One of these websites is PDF Drive (https://www.pdfdrive.com/), which allows you to search and download millions of books in PDF format. To download the book from PDF Drive, you just have to follow these simple steps:
Go to https://www.pdfdrive.com/
Type "Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society" in the search box and click on the magnifying glass icon.
Select the edition of the book that you want to download. The latest edition is the 12th edition published in 2018.
Click on the green "Download" button.
Wait for a few seconds until the download link appears.
Click on the link and save the file on your device.
That's it! You can now enjoy reading the book on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Main body
Issue 1: Should drugs be legalized?
Yes: Arguments and evidence
One of the essays that supports drug legalization is written by Ethan Nadelmann, the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, a leading organization that advocates for drug policy reform. Nadelmann argues that drug prohibition is a failure that causes more harm than good. He claims that drug prohibition:
Creates a black market that fuels violence, corruption, and crime.
Wastes billions of dollars on ineffective and harmful drug enforcement.
Violates human rights and civil liberties of drug users and non-users alike.
Undermines public health and safety by increasing the risks of overdose, infection, and contamination.
Prevents access to medical and therapeutic benefits of some drugs.
Nadelmann proposes that drugs should be legalized and regulated in a similar way as alcohol and tobacco. He believes that this would reduce the harms associated with drug use and prohibition, such as:
Reducing the power and profits of criminal organizations.
Saving money and resources that can be invested in education, prevention, and treatment.
Respecting the rights and choices of individuals who use drugs responsibly.
Improving the quality and purity of drugs and providing accurate information to consumers.
Expanding the availability and accessibility of medical and therapeutic uses of some drugs.
No: Arguments and evidence
One of the essays that opposes drug legalization is written by Robert L. DuPont, the president of the Institute for Behavior and Health, a non-profit organization that promotes effective drug policies. DuPont argues that drug legalization is a dangerous and irresponsible idea that would have disastrous consequences for society. He claims that drug legalization would:
Increase the availability, affordability, and acceptability of drugs.
Increase the number of people who use drugs and become addicted to them.
Increase the negative effects of drug use on health, productivity, and social functioning.
Increase the costs and burdens on health care, criminal justice, and social welfare systems.
Decrease the incentives and opportunities for prevention, intervention, and recovery.
DuPont proposes that drugs should remain illegal and controlled by strict laws and regulations. He believes that this would prevent or reduce the harms associated with drug use and addiction, such as:
Limited the supply and demand of drugs.
Deterred people from starting or continuing to use drugs.
Encouraged people to seek help and treatment for their drug problems.
Protected the public from the dangers and nuisances of drug-related crime and disorder.
Promoted a culture of health, wellness, and responsibility among individuals and communities.
Issue 2: Is drug addiction a disease or a choice?
Disease: Arguments and evidence
One of the essays that supports the disease model of addiction is written by Nora D. Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a federal agency that conducts research on drug abuse and addiction. Volkow argues that addiction is a chronic brain disease that alters the structure and function of the brain. She claims that addiction is characterized by:
A loss of control over drug use despite negative consequences.
A compulsive craving for drugs that overrides other motivations.
A reduced ability to experience pleasure from natural rewards.
A heightened sensitivity to stress and negative emotions.
A impaired judgment, decision-making, and self-regulation.
Volkow proposes that addiction should be treated as a medical condition that requires comprehensive care. She believes that this would improve the outcomes and quality of life for people with addiction, such as:
Increasing their access to effective medications, behavioral therapies, and support services.
Reducing their risk of relapse, overdose, infection, and other complications.
Enhancing their recovery process by addressing their physical, mental, emotional, and social needs.
Reducing the stigma and discrimination they face from society.
Inspiring them to hope for a better future without drugs.
Choice: Arguments and evidence
Issue 3: What are the best ways to prevent and treat drug abuse?
Prevention: Arguments and evidence
One of the essays that supports prevention as the best way to deal with drug abuse is written by David S. Anderson, a professor of education and human development at George Mason University. Anderson argues that prevention programs can reduce drug use and its consequences by targeting the risk and protective factors that influence drug-related behaviors. He claims that prevention programs can:
Enhance the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of individuals and groups to resist drug use.
Strengthen the social norms and values that discourage drug use.
Improve the environmental conditions and policies that reduce the availability and accessibility of drugs.
Support the development of positive alternatives and opportunities for drug-free lifestyles.
Involve the collaboration and participation of multiple sectors and stakeholders in the community.
Anderson proposes that prevention programs should be implemented at different levels and stages of life, such as:
Universal prevention: Programs that target the general population or a whole group, such as schools, workplaces, or neighborhoods.
Selective prevention: Programs that target individuals or groups who are at higher risk of drug use, such as children of drug users, dropouts, or offenders.
Indicated prevention: Programs that target individuals who have already started using drugs or show signs of drug problems, such as low grades, absenteeism, or aggression.
Treatment: Arguments and evidence
One of the essays that supports treatment as the best way to deal with drug abuse is written by A. Thomas McLellan, a professor of psychiatry and co-founder of the Treatment Research Institute, a non-profit organization that conducts research on substance abuse treatment. McLellan argues that treatment programs can help people with drug problems to stop or reduce their drug use and improve their functioning and well-being. He claims that treatment programs can:
Address the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of addiction.
Provide a range of services that meet the diverse needs and preferences of clients.
Use evidence-based practices that are proven to be effective and cost-effective.
Monitor and evaluate the progress and outcomes of clients.
Coordinate and integrate with other systems and services that affect clients, such as health care, criminal justice, education, and employment.
McLellan proposes that treatment programs should be delivered in different settings and modalities, such as:
Inpatient treatment: Programs that provide intensive care in a residential facility for a short period of time, usually 28 days or less.
Outpatient treatment: Programs that provide less intensive care in a non-residential facility for a longer period of time, usually several months or more.
Pharmacotherapy: Programs that use medications to treat the physical and psychological effects of addiction, such as withdrawal symptoms, cravings, or co-occurring disorders.
Psychotherapy: Programs that use various forms of counseling or therapy to help clients change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to addiction.
Mutual-help groups: Programs that use peer support and self-help principles to help clients maintain their recovery, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, I have given you a brief overview of Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society, a book that presents different perspectives on various issues related to drugs and society. I have also summarized some of the arguments and evidence from four of the issues covered in the book: drug legalization, drug addiction, drug prevention, and drug treatment. As you can see, there is no simple or definitive answer to these complex and controversial questions. Each side has its own merits and limitations, and each issue has its own implications and challenges for individuals and society.
Recommendations for further reading
If you want to learn more about these issues or other issues related to drugs and society, I recommend you to read Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society. You can download it for free from PDF Drive (https://www.pdfdrive.com/) by following the steps I explained earlier. You can also check out some of the suggested readings that are listed at the end of each issue in the book. These readings include books, articles, reports, websites, and videos that provide more information and analysis on the topics. Some examples of these readings are:
Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs by Johann Hari, a book that explores the history and consequences of drug prohibition and alternatives to it.
The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a Disease by Marc Lewis, a book that challenges the disease model of addiction and offers a new perspective based on neuroscience and psychology.
Preventing Drug Abuse: What Do We Know? by National Research Council, a report that reviews the evidence and effectiveness of different types of drug prevention programs.
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide by National Institute on Drug Abuse, a guide that outlines the principles and practices of effective drug treatment programs.
Drug Policy Alliance (https://www.drugpolicy.org/), a website that advocates for drug policy reform based on human rights, health, and harm reduction.
TEDx Talks (https://www.ted.com/topics/drugs), a collection of videos that feature speakers who share their ideas and experiences on drugs and society.
Call to action
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article and learned something new and useful. If you did, please share it with your friends, family, or colleagues who might be interested in this topic. You can also leave a comment below to let me know what you think about the article or the book. I would love to hear your feedback and opinions. Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions and answers about Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Drugs and Society:
Who is the author of the book?
The author of the book is Raymond Goldberg, a professor emeritus of health education at East Carolina University. He has written several books and articles on drugs and society, such as Drugs Across the Spectrum and The Facts About Drug Use.
How many editions of the book are there?
There are 12 editions of the book, published between 1998 and 2018. The latest edition contains 20 issues, while the previous editions contain 16 or 18 issues. The issues are updated and revised in each edition to reflect the current trends and debates on drugs and society.
How can I use the book for my studies or research?
The book can be used as a textbook for courses on drugs and society, as well as a reference for research papers or projects on drug-related topics. The book can help you to develop your critical thinking and analytical skills by exposing you to different viewpoints and evidence on various issues. The book can also help you to formulate your own position and arguments on these issues by providing you with relevant information and sources.
What are some of the benefits of reading the book?
The book can help you to expand your knowledge and understanding of drugs and society by presenting you with diverse and comprehensive perspectives on various issues. The book can also help you to improve your communication and persuasion skills by showing you how to present your arguments and evidence in a clear and convincing way. The book can also help you to enhance your personal and professional development by challenging you to think critically and creatively about drugs and society.
Where can I find more information about the book?
You can find more information about the book on its official website (https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/taking-sides-clashing-views-drugs-society-goldberg/M9781259883249.html), where you can view the table of contents, read sample chapters, access instructor resources, request a review copy, or order a print or digital copy.
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