Education is the most powerful tool an individual can have when facing decisions about drug use. The U•X•L Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances puts clear, comprehensive, and current information on fifty-two drugs at readers' fingertips. The set was designed with middle-school students in mind but can serve as a useful resource for readers of all ages. Each of the entries in this five-volume encyclopedia offers insights into the history, usage trends, and effects of a specific drug or addictive substance.

What Does "Addiction" Mean?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's NIDA InfoFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction, dated March 2005, drug addiction is more than just "a lot of drug use." The term "addiction" is described as:

• an overpowering desire, craving, or need to take a certain drug
• a willingness to obtain the drug by any means
• a tendency to keep increasing the dose that...