Prescription drugs are a basic and invaluable part of society today, but there is debate surrounding the methods of testing new drugs, the possible misuse of prescription drugs, and the economics of drug production and use.This book examines the evolution of prescription drugs in the United States, as well as the formation of the pharmaceutical industry. It begins with a history of prescription drugs, dating back to their origins, then moves through the Industrial ...

Reviewing the topic from antiquity to the present day, this book examines the debate over the use of animals in research in a fair and balanced way.The debate over the use of nonhuman animals in experimental research has gone on for centuries, and it continues as vigorously today as it ever has. In fact, in the last decade, the controversy has intensified, making animal testing a topic at the highest level of debate of any socioscientific issue in the United States...

Robots: A Reference Handbook differs from most other books on robotics in the variety of resources that it provides to readers of all ages.Robots: A Reference Handbook teaches readers about a wide variety of robots. It opens with a history of robotics, dating to ancient Greece and Rome, at which time an impressive array of automata were invented for entertainment, religious, and instructional purposes. It follows the development of automata and ro...

This book provides a detailed introduction to natural disasters and the ways in which they have had and continue to have, profound effects on human society.Natural Disasters: A Reference Handbook surveys the impact of these events on human civilization. The opening chapter provides a general history and background of the major types of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, severe storms, and forest fires. The information presented i...

STDs in the United States: A Reference Handbook provides information about sexually transmitted diseases and infections and their impact on both an individual and a societal level.STDs in the United States: A Reference Handbook provides extensive background on the diagnosis, treatment, consequences, and public understanding of STDs. It also makes available to readers a host of tools and resources with which they can expand that understanding by ca...

This book provides a historical background for the world's current energy problems, describing how the Industrial Revolution has led us to the impending end of the "Age of Fossil Fuels," and describes possible solutions for averting a global crisis.World Energy Crisis: A Reference Handbook provides a thorough investigation of a controversial topic: our current global energy situation, and what actions should be taken to prevent a crippling fuel-supply cata...

Waste management poses a daunting global challenge. This resource provides an in-depth look at the waste management industry in the USA and elsewhere.The book begins with an introduction to waste disposal and management through history, from early civilizations and the Middle Ages through to the present. Readers will better understand current problems, controversies, and solutions relating to waste management, including the exportation of hazardous wastes, electron...

The Climate Change Debate: A Reference Handbook provides an in-depth look at climate change facts and statistics. It also discusses debate surrounding the scientific consensus.The Climate Change Debate: A Reference Handbook covers the topic of climate change from the earliest days of planet Earth to the present day.Chapters One and Two provide a historical background of climate change and a review of current problems, controversies, and so...

This single-volume resource provides sound, up-to-date information and authoritative resources for research on the controversial topics of the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes and the effects of marijuana use on society.The use of marijuana has consistently been a highly controversial, polarizing, and emotional topic, so much so that social, cultural, and religious factors have largely influenced public opinion, legislation, and law enforcemen...

This thoroughly updated edition provides readers with the background and resources needed to understand one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time.When it was first published in 1994, Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook was acclaimed in School Library Journal for taking "a sober and balanced approach in addressing this emotionally charged and complex topic." The new edition shows just how far the nation has come in securing legal...

How is water scarcity becoming a serious problem worldwide—including in the United States? This book provides a broad overview of water, sanitation, and hygiene problems faced by both developing and developed nations around the globe and suggests how these problems can be solved by imaginative and innovative thinking.Human society depends on sufficient clean water. In many parts of the world, however, this most basic commodity is in very short supply. Even in devel...

This text provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the essential aspects of youth substance abuse—an important contemporary personal, social, and public health issue.Humans have been using natural and synthetic chemicals for at least two millennia—primarily for the purpose of treating medical problems, but also for recreational purposes. The 2014 Monitoring the Future survey of eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students indicates a general decline in the u...