2nd Edition

Methamphetamine Use Clinical and Forensic Aspects, Second Edition

    408 Pages 2 Color & 6 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    The first wave of methamphetamine use began in the late 1980s and its prevalence has continued to rise across the United States and throughout the world. As with any harmful substance, its abuse has far-reaching ramifications that go beyond the destruction it causes to the human body. Written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Methamphetamine Use: Clinical and Forensic Aspects, Second Edition examines meth use and abuse from clinical, forensic, and criminal justice perspectives. Updated and expanded to reflect changes in recent years, this volume covers virtually every aspect of this dangerous drug.

    The book begins with a history of drug control in America, then provides global perspectives on methamphetamine use. It explores biochemical aspects and includes a chapter on the methamphetamine analogue "ecstasy." The text examines the effects of meth use on human behavior, with a special focus on empirical evidence of amphetamine use as a contributing factor in aggression. The authors discuss forensic issues related to methamphetamine use in chapters covering expert testimony, criminal responsibility, mitigation in sentencing, and competency to stand trial. The last section examines various treatment modalities.

    As methamphetamine grows once again in popularity, it is crucial that those who deal with the effects of it be well-informed about the dangers it poses. This volume provides a comprehensive, critical survey of the current knowledge regarding the use and abuse of this dangerous and ubiquitous substance.

    Prologue

    Background and Scope

    The History of Drug Control

    Global Perspectives on Methamphetamine

    Biology, Behavior, and Law

    Mechanisms of Methamphetamine Action

    MDMA

    Effects and Diagnosis of Methamphetamine Use

    Empirical Evidence of the Effects of Methamphetamine on Aggression

    Forensics

    Methamphetamine and Pregnancy

    Expert Testimony

    Criminal Responsibility

    Criminal Responsibility Evaluation in a Methampethamine-Murder Case

    Mitigation in Sentencing

    Miranda Rights, Interrogation, Competency to Confess, and Competency to Stand Trial

    Dangerousness Prediction in Methamphetamine Cases

    Treatment

    Treatment

    Epilogue: Methamphetamine as Forensic Challenge

    Glossary

    Appendix

    Index

    Biography

    Sandra B. McPherson, Harold V. Hall, Errol Yudko