Methamphetamine (Compact Research Series)

Methamphetamine is the fastest growing and arguably one of the most dangerous illegal drugs available. Through objective overviews, primary sources, and full color illustrations, this title examines Meth's effect on the body, crime and society, and how its abuse can be prevented.

Grade 8-10–These conveniently organized, user-friendly volumes cater to reluctant readers and feature objective overviews; large-type primary-source quotes; and a number of brightly colored maps, charts, and graphs. Berne explores whether methamphetamine usage in the U.S. has reached epidemic proportions, its dangers, the link between addiction and crime, and abuse prevention. Egendorf cites the dangers of heroin and addresses abuse prevention, the effectiveness of treatments, and whether its use should be decriminalized or legalized. Nakaya covers marijuana-related health issues, the drug's effect on society, and legalization issues including medicinal usage. End matter is above average with source notes, related organizations, a chronology, and an annotated listing of key people and advocacy groups. Since many series titles cover similar information in a similar format on all three drugs, purchase to update or fill holes in collections.–Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
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Is methamphetamine use an epidemic? This title from the Compact Research: Drugs series considers that question along with the dangers of the drug, links between meth addiction and crime, and addiction prevention. Each chapter is followed by a "Facts and Illustrations" section that includes a page of bullet-point statements and several pages of information clearly presented on colorful, clearly labeled charts, graphs, and maps. "Primary Source Quotes" offers a series of quotes, from statements by doctors, journalists, and government officials to those of former addicts, with writers identified and the source references given below the quotes. Some students may find these sections useful as a way to identify places to look for "primary source" quotes for their papers, but the use of the statements out of context, frequently with words left out or inserted, takes these quotes a step or two away from what most teachers would consider primary sources. Back matter includes a chronology; source notes; lists of books, periodicals, and Internet sources; and annotated lists of key people and organizations. Carolyn Phelan
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