ABSTRACT
Goldberg22 simply asks, "Are drugs really a problem in society, or is there simply an excess of concern regarding drugs?". While it is difficult to answer this question, it is important to recognize that there are, in addition to pleasurable effects, inherent adverse consequences associated with drug use, such as dependence, legal difficulties, and medical, social, intellectual, and psychological problems. The purpose of this chapter is to review drug effects, specifically discussing the relationship between drug-taking behavior and sociocultural factors. It begins with an examination of sociocultural factors, followed by a general review of the behavioral or psychological effects of drugs, a brief description of drug distribution, and concludes with a brief narration of pharmacological effects.
