Based on extensive participant observation research, a life-history model is presented to explain why very few of those who come into contact with narcotics become problematic consumers; that is make drugs one of the most central elements in their lives. The model covers four stages in the deviant career; two preceding and two subsequent to the individual's narcotics debut. Prohibition and harm reduction as models for intervention are presented, and the implications for drug policy of the life-history model are discussed.

Praised by practitioners, students and instructors for its engaging approach to teaching a very complex subject, Demystifying Opioid Conversion Calculations: A Guide for Effective Dosing, has long been the go-to guide for learning how to calculate opioid conversions. Now in its second edition, this reference is a must-have for clinicians involved in pain management at all levels. Written by pain management expert Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, MA, MDE, BCPS, CPE, Demystifying Opioid Conversion Calculations focuses on the calculations that practitioners use in actual practice, providing realistic scenarios for decision making. The revised edition covers the entire spectrum of opioid analgesics used to manage patients with moderate-to-severe pain and serious life­-limiting illnesses.

Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 10% of adults in the United States or approximately 20 million individuals. Further, recent studies have shown that improper dosing in patients with renal dysfunction occurs over 20% of the time. ASHP’s Demystifying Drug Dosing in Renal Dysfunction addresses the persistent and challenging problem of dosing medications for patients with renal insufficiency and dysfunction.

With Demystifying Drug Dosing in Obese Patients, that resource you need is here, delivering: Fully-referenced dosing recommendations for specific drugs Dedicated chapters on antimicrobial dosing, anticoagulants and antiplatelets, antiepileptics, analgesics, antineoplastic medicines, and more Guidance on immunosuppression and medication absorption in bariatric surgery Tips for adult, pediatric, ambulatory, acute, and critical care Pharmacokinetic parameters in obese patients

The Science and Business of Drug Discovery is written for those who want to learn about the biopharmaceutical industry and its products whatever their level of technical knowledge. Its aim is to demystify the jargon used in drug development, but in a way that avoids over simplification and the resulting loss of key information. Each of the nineteen chapters is illustrated with figures and tables which clarify some of the more technical points being made. Also included is a drug discovery case history which draws the relevant material together into a single chapter. In recognizing that it is difficult to navigate through the many external resources dealing with drug development, the book has been written to guide the reader towards the most appropriate information sources, including those listed in the two appendices. The following topics are covered: Different types of drugs: from small molecules to stem cells Background to chemistry of small and large molecules Historical background to drug discovery, pharmacology and biotechnology The drug discovery pipeline: from target discovery to marketed medicine Commercial aspects of drug discovery Challenges to the biopharmaceutical industry and its responses Material of specific interest to technology transfer executives, recruiters and pharmaceutical translators.

A creature of Jewish mythology, a golem is an animated being made by man from clay and water who knows neither his own strength nor the extent of his ignorance. Like science and technology, the subjects of Harry Collins and Trevor Pinch's previous volumes, medicine is also a golem, and this Dr. Golem should not be blamed for its mistakes - they ...

Thoroughly revised to reflect contemporary diagnostics and treatment, this Third Edition is a comprehensive and practical reference on the assessment and management of acute and chronic pain. This edition features 14 new chapters and is filled with new information on invasive procedures...pharmacologic interventions...neuraxial pharmacotherapy...physical and occupational therapies...diagnostic techniques...pain in terminally ill patients...cancer pain...visceral pain...rheumatologic disorders...managed care...and medicolegal issues. Reorganized with two new sections focusing on diagnostics and cancer pain. A Brandon-Hill recommended title.

The management of COVID-19 is challenging due to the lack of clear information about the Sars-Cov2 and recommendations for specific treatment regimens. The scale of the pandemic has also exacerbated the situation, with health care systems under stress from the high volume of COVID-19 patients. In Demystifying COVID-19: Understanding the Disease, Its Diagnosis, and Treatment, medical experts explain many aspects about the COVID-19 pandemic, including guidelines to minimize risk of infection, diagnostic methods, treatment, real scenarios in the course of the disease and issues that need attention in specific patient groups. The book equips both general readers and healthcare professionals with key information required to understand COVID-19 and navigate a situation typical to a pandemic. Public health officials who wish to mobilize awareness campaigns for the benefit of the general public can also find value in the comprehensive information presented in this reference.

LOS ANGELES TIMES AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER • The powerful memoir of a young doctor and former college athlete diagnosed with a rare disease who spearheaded the search for a cure—and became a champion for a new approach to medical research. “A wonderful and moving chronicle of a doctor’s relentless pursuit, this book serves both patients and physicians in demystifying the science that lies behind medicine.”—Siddhartha Mukherjee, New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene David Fajgenbaum, a former Georgetown quarterback, was nicknamed the Beast in medical school, where he was also known for his unmatched mental stamina. But things changed dramatically when he began suffering from inexplicable fatigue. In a matter of weeks, his organs were failing and he was read his last rites. Doctors were baffled by his condition, which they had yet to even diagnose. Floating in and out of consciousness, Fajgenbaum prayed for a second chance, the equivalent of a dramatic play to second the game into overtime. Miraculously, Fajgenbaum survived—only to endure repeated near-death relapses from what would eventually be identified as a form of Castleman disease, an extremely deadly and rare condition that acts like a cross between cancer and an autoimmune disorder. When he relapsed while on the only drug in development and realized that the medical community was unlikely to make progress in time to save his life, Fajgenbaum turned his desperate hope for a cure into concrete action: Between hospitalizations he studied his own charts and tested his own blood samples, looking for clues that could unlock a new treatment. With the help of family, friends, and mentors, he also reached out to other Castleman disease patients and physicians, and eventually came up with an ambitious plan to crowdsource the most promising research questions and recruit world-class researchers to tackle them. Instead of waiting for the scientific stars to align, he would attempt to align them himself. More than five years later and now married to his college sweetheart, Fajgenbaum has seen his hard work pay off: A treatment he identified has induced a tentative remission and his novel approach to collaborative scientific inquiry has become a blueprint for advancing rare disease research. His incredible story demonstrates the potency of hope, and what can happen when the forces of determination, love, family, faith, and serendipity collide. Praise for Chasing My Cure “A page-turning chronicle of living, nearly dying, and discovering what it really means to be invincible in hope.”—Angela Duckworth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grit “[A] remarkable memoir . . . Fajgenbaum writes lucidly and movingly . . . Fajgenbaum’s stirring account of his illness will inspire readers.”—Publishers Weekly