The ubiquitous assignment of a health report on drugs is made far easier by the Compact Research: Drugs series, which offers overviews of the manufacture, side effects, risks, and abuse of each group of drugs. Diet Drugs gives a history of early weight-loss drugs in the U.S. and their increasing popularity with the rise of obesity. It also relates the controversial effectiveness of diet drugs and the problem of diet-drug fraud. Backed by current facts, statistics, and first-person experiences, every chapter includes further documentation with concluding "Primary Source Quotes," from former addicts and law enforcement to health care workers and government officials. In this visual, by-the-numbers era, the series responds with end-of-chapter charts and graphs that display drug-related information. Additional back matter comprises lists of key people, advocacy groups, and related organizations; a bibliography; and a chronology. This series is the next go-to resource for drug-abuse research.

Each book is divided into four sections that discuss the abuse of a class of drugs. The texts, which cover the problem, dangers, efficacy of laws, and prevention and treatment, are supported by personal anecdotes and charts and graphs. Primary- and secondary-source quotes lack context and thus credibility. Photos and sidebars help break up the texts, but the pages are cluttered. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.