Rating: 
Summary: Mixed signals.
Review: Although Dr. Weil and his co-author claim to be neutral on how they stand with mind-altering drugs, (and do an excellent job at simply presenting the facts without bias or much of their own opinion), I feel they subtly reveal how they truly feel about using them. When I read the facts about these drugs, I finished each chapter feeling like I either never wanted to touch any drug again; or like I wanted to go snort some coke...and that it would be okay as long as I knew what I was doing and knew exactly how the drug would effect me. It was weird because I got mixed signals - not so much by the words, but more so from the manner in which all the information is presented in the book. (The little pictures and quotes by different people were a highlight.) The authors make it seem okay to use drugs, although they never actually state it. While at the same time, they seem somewhat against using them. I didn't say against THEM, I said against USING them. They do say that drugs aren't bad but that people can form bad relationships with drugs. Actually, when I read the chapter on stimulants (particularly about coffee) I felt like a loser for drinking coffee. I had no idea it was so unhealthy. It's not just the caffiene in it people; there's so much more. In fact, I quit drinking coffee partly because of this book and I'm almost free from the addiction now. Interestingly, I didn't realize how addicted I was to coffee until I tried quitting. Yikes. Oh and FYI, if you read any of Weil's other books (which I highly recommend doing), you'll find he's actually very into getting and staying healthy - two things using drugs don't usually help a person do.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone should read this book!
Review: Although my more conservative friends believe otherwise, I think anyone, regardless of age, could benefit from reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Well-researched
Review: As a medical student who plans on working with high-risk adolescents, I felt that I needed to know something about recreational drugs that wasn't being taught to me in school. So I got this book. While written for lay-people to understand, this well-written and extensively researched piece of work lays out the plain facts about recreational drugs. I like the fact that Weil and Rosen remind us that drugs are not just illegal, but that alcohol, nicotine, chocolate, and caffeine are also recreational drugs. My only warning is that the book is getting a few years old and recent research (especially on newer drugs like MDMA) is not included in this volume. I strongly caution readers to check more recent literature if they are interested in a specific substance.
Rating: 
Summary: Needs work!
Review: First, much of the information is outdated. The majority of the information hazily hails from the 70's. This book may be suitable for those uneducated about drugs, but most of the insights are merely clever. While disparaging many drug myths, the authorns propogate almost as many of their own perceptions through biased, anecdotal and often inadequate popular descriptions of various drugs' characteristics. Randomly, he goes into great detail outlining a few drugs' histories. Also, little lists at the end of a section are included to ostensibly prepare people for myriad experiences that often cannot be described, much less controlled. These lists give tacit approval to every included category of drug. This is a book for people who know very little about drugs.
Rating:
Summary: An unbiased account from a heavy player in this arena
Review: I bought this book for information on the subject upon which i like to study, hallucinogens, specifically tryptamine hallucinogens. Andrew Weil in this book does cover almost every drug, either legal or illegal, and in an unbiased fashion, noting the Pro's and Con's of each drug, namely dependence, affects, pharmacological uses etc.. On each drug, he explains the legality of them, thorougly, and where they fit in to society, which is important that i feel many other authors of the same subject have absent from their works, specifically speaking. One phrase Weil says which i think has immense credibility, is "There is no such thing as a bad drug, just bad relationships with drugs" and this book is riddled with phrases keyed to that effect. It is important to realize that people make decisions based on the basis of the information available to them, and we are in a sitiuation of propaganda, ill information for the reasons clandestine. This book very well puts all cards on the deck, and voices its opinion with no preconceived consequences for the information put forth. This book is up with Food of the Gods - Terence Mckenna and other books which have penetrated the thick barrior of governmental consequences. Highly recommended for those just getting interested in subjects which pertain to altered states of consciousness, student and teacher alike!
Rating:
Summary: The Exciting World of Psychoactive Drugs
Review: I checked this book out from the school library in junior high, sealed myself in my room, and read the entire thing in one fell swoop. Looking back on that day, I regard the experience as a milestone in my life - a kind of academic initiation into the field of psychoactive substances. This book formed a solid foundation upon which I have conducted further study in the area. Weil and Rosen present the history of most psychoactive drugs along with sober advice for recreational, or any other, use.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous and Interesting Read
Review: I use this book as a reference during substance abuse seminars I present to parents and community members. I like this book because it doesn't use scare tactics or take sides. The information is presented factually and allows the reader to decide their own feelings/beliefs about the drug and how it is used. Very insightful comparisons. Loved the section on what is a drug and how we define it. E.g. Alcohol, food or toxin.
Rating:
Summary: How to keep drugs from ruining your life
Review: The drug czar would claim this book "sends the wrong message" to kids. Sorry, czar. I disagree. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance can kill you. This book gives the facts, not "messages." The central premise of the book is, "There are no good or bad drugs, only good and bad relationships with drugs." It then goes on to explain the dangers inherent in each drug and how to use the drug responsibly to avoid the dangers and have a good relationship with that drug, if possible. We already provide that sort of information for alcohol when we say "don't drink and drive" and "don't drink alone," for instance. This book expands that to give guidelines for all the common "recreational" drugs. For some drugs (e.g., tobacco) it's virtually impossible to have a good relationship with them because they are so addicting. That is all spelled out, and because the book gives clear explanations of WHY certain drugs are dangerous (i.e. why it's very difficult to have a good relationship with them), it becomes, I think, far easier to rationally choose not to use those drugs. "Just say no" goes only so far. At some point some kids WILL say "yes." What then? This book will give a kid who does experiment much better odds of not doing something really stupid....and possibly, by satisfying a lot of a kid's curiosity about drugs, keep him from experimenting at all.
Rating: 
Summary: I didn't find this at all helpful
Review: the personal statements at the end were ok..interesting how the alcohol statement from the psychoanalyst praised the use and the marijuana use showed less praise and worthiness..rather askew consider the balance in the previous section..fine book except the personals in the rear weren't any big deal
Rating:
Summary: Not "Mixed Signals" just the facts good and bad.
Review: The previous reviewer's feeling of mixed signals from this book is simply due to the fact that Weil and Rosen acknowledge that drugs and drug use are neither good or bad but much more complicated. A refreshing viewpoint given the extremist positions presented by politicians and the media today. I highly reccomend this book to parents, teachers and anyone else interested in well thought out and informed factual information on drugs and drug use.
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