A balanced and straightforward survey of the key issues, facts, and controversies surrounding the use and abuse of harmful drugs in the United States and abroad. Drug Use: A Reference Handbook presents a vast collection of facts and information about the major issues that drive the world's never-ending drug problem. An examination of five substances--tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and cocaine--presents eye-opening facts about their relationship to politics, policies, big business, and war. Historical overviews and descriptions of the makeup and effects of each drug--such as the derivation of heroin from the opium poppy--segue into an analysis of the risk factors, patterns, and controversies regarding their use. Biographies profile key players related to the substance-use problem, and reports on drug use in the United States and selected countries are viewed from a worldwide perspective, offering a thought-provoking exploration of drug use, its problems, and policies. * Chronology of key events related to the major substances, such as the Taliban's 2000 ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan, the world's largest opium producer * Glossary of terms commonly used in discussing drugs and drug use, such as the meanings of use, abuse, and addiction.