2007-11-18 A readable and useful review of a topical subject

As the title of this timely book alludes, Amphetamines occupy a curious position; on the one hand they are a commonly abused, potentially devastating class of substances, on the other, an increasingly popularly prescribed psychiatric medication.

Leslie Iversen is a Pharmacologist, and his book covers the mechanism of action of amphetamines, before going on to give a brief history of amphetamines, their medical uses, their abuse around the world, and their harmful effects, with a chapter devoted to ecstasy.

I found the description of the scandal surrounding the prescription of fenfluramine/phentermine for obesity in the '90s, leading to an upsurge in heart and lung problems, particularly fascinating, and a chilling model of what can go wrong when effective drug safety monitoring breaks down.

The writing is clear throughout, although the comprehensibility will depend somewhat on a reader's background; whilst the chapters on the history and medical uses of amphetamines are accessible to anyone, the chapters on pharmacology and harms are aimed more squarely at the professional reader.

The book is also very even-handed, acknowledging the potential benefits, as well as harms of amphetamines. I found the chapter on ecstasy interesting in relation to this; almost 20 years after its use exploded onto the UK drug scene, and after a lot of early exaggerated accounts of its danger, the conclusion here is that the jury is still out regarding long-term harm.

Overall I would strongly recommend this as a up-to-date review of a critical area for mental health professionals or those working in substance misuse services. The interested amateur reader will also find much that is interesting here, as long as they don't mind some in-depth science.