Gary L. Fisher is Founder and was the first Director at the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno. A former Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology, he is the author of a textbook on substance abuse counseling that is now in its third edition. Fisher's career has spanned 31 years and includes work as a private practice clinician and in public schools as a psychologist. The center he directed in Reno provides drug and alcohol counselors and prevention specialists with state-of-the-art training.

"Offering a comprehensive presentation of relevant data, Fisher details past and current failures of the US's National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). His most convincing and important contention is that the emphasis on reducing marijuana use among youth is misguided. Youth alcohol consumption, argues Fisher, causes far more harm than marijuana use, and alcohol is most often the gateway drug to other drugs and hence to drug problems. In a discussion that echoes criticism of big tobacco, the author exposes the alcohol industry's efforts to attract young drinkers to replace drinkers who are aging or dead, and he points to evidence that the NDCS--and the nation's laws regarding drug use, including alcohol--is heavily influenced by lobbying from alcohol interests. As a result, objective evidence that conflicts with alcohol interests is dismissed. This is a fascinating book....Essential. All readers; all levels." - Choice

• Foreword by William L. WhitePrefaceOne The War on Drugs: Is the Battle Plan Working?Two The National Drug Control Strategy, 1996–2005Three Legalization, Decriminalization, Harm ReductionFour How Dangerous Is Marijuana?Five Why Doesn't the NDCS Focus on Underage Drinking?Six Does Prevention Work?Seven Controversial Issues in TreatmentEight Can the Supply Ever Be Stopped?Nine A New Model for a National Drug Control PolicyNotesIndex

Gary L. Fisher is Founder and was the first Director at the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno. A former Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology, he is the author of a textbook on substance abuse counseling that is now in its third edition. Fisher's career has spanned 31 years and includes work as a private practice clinician and in public schools as a psychologist. The center he directed in Reno provides drug and alcohol counselors and prevention specialists with state-of-the-art training.

"Offering a comprehensive presentation of relevant data, Fisher details past and current failures of the US's National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). His most convincing and important contention is that the emphasis on reducing marijuana use among youth is misguided. Youth alcohol consumption, argues Fisher, causes far more harm than marijuana use, and alcohol is most often the gateway drug to other drugs and hence to drug problems. In a discussion that echoes criticism of big tobacco, the author exposes the alcohol industry's efforts to attract young drinkers to replace drinkers who are aging or dead, and he points to evidence that the NDCS--and the nation's laws regarding drug use, including alcohol--is heavily influenced by lobbying from alcohol interests. As a result, objective evidence that conflicts with alcohol interests is dismissed. This is a fascinating book....Essential. All readers; all levels." - Choice

• Foreword by William L. WhitePrefaceOne The War on Drugs: Is the Battle Plan Working?Two The National Drug Control Strategy, 1996–2005Three Legalization, Decriminalization, Harm ReductionFour How Dangerous Is Marijuana?Five Why Doesn't the NDCS Focus on Underage Drinking?Six Does Prevention Work?Seven Controversial Issues in TreatmentEight Can the Supply Ever Be Stopped?Nine A New Model for a National Drug Control PolicyNotesIndex

Gary L. Fisher is Founder and was the first Director at the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies at the University of Nevada, Reno. A former Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology, he is the author of a textbook on substance abuse counseling that is now in its third edition. Fisher's career has spanned 31 years and includes work as a private practice clinician and in public schools as a psychologist. The center he directed in Reno provides drug and alcohol counselors and prevention specialists with state-of-the-art training.

"Offering a comprehensive presentation of relevant data, Fisher details past and current failures of the US's National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS). His most convincing and important contention is that the emphasis on reducing marijuana use among youth is misguided. Youth alcohol consumption, argues Fisher, causes far more harm than marijuana use, and alcohol is most often the gateway drug to other drugs and hence to drug problems. In a discussion that echoes criticism of big tobacco, the author exposes the alcohol industry's efforts to attract young drinkers to replace drinkers who are aging or dead, and he points to evidence that the NDCS--and the nation's laws regarding drug use, including alcohol--is heavily influenced by lobbying from alcohol interests. As a result, objective evidence that conflicts with alcohol interests is dismissed. This is a fascinating book....Essential. All readers; all levels." - Choice

• Foreword by William L. WhitePrefaceOne The War on Drugs: Is the Battle Plan Working?Two The National Drug Control Strategy, 1996–2005Three Legalization, Decriminalization, Harm ReductionFour How Dangerous Is Marijuana?Five Why Doesn't the NDCS Focus on Underage Drinking?Six Does Prevention Work?Seven Controversial Issues in TreatmentEight Can the Supply Ever Be Stopped?Nine A New Model for a National Drug Control PolicyNotesIndex