Includes bibliographical references and index.

The nature of the drug problem -- This history of drug abuse -- Drug abuse and pharmacology -- The illicit drug trade -- Domestic drug production -- Drugs and crime -- Organized crime and the drug trade -- Domestic drug-trafficking organizations -- Mexico and other transnational drug-trafficking organizations -- The drug control initiative -- Critical issues in drug control -- Legalizing marijuana: America's latest social experiment -- Understanding drug control policy -- Drug control through treatment and prevention.

Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts, and Control, eighth edition, focuses on the many critical areas of America's drug problem, providing a foundation for rational decision-making within this complex and multidisciplinary field. Lyman offers a comprehensive big-picture examination of the US drug problem, dealing with drugs, abusers, drug enforcement, and public policy. Organized in three sections--Understanding the Problem, Gangs and Drugs, and Fighting Back--the book covers many topics, including the business of drugs and the role of organized crime in the drug trade, drug legalization and decriminalization, legal and law enforcement strategies, an analysis of the socialization process of drug use and abuse, and a historical discussion of drug abuse that puts the contemporary drug problem into perspective. Suitable for upper-level undergraduates in Criminal Justice, Criminology, and related programs, Drugs in Society, eighth edition, uses logical organization and strong pedagogy (case studies, focused text boxes with related information, critical thinking tasks) to support learning objectives.