The Chemistry of Mind Altering Drugs is mainly written in a fashion that describes certain types of drugs that can alter one’s mind and body. The book is broken up into categories, separating the compounds that produce similar effects on the brain/mind. There are seven chapters that display the drugs along with four appendices and an index if the reader is unsure of what time of mind-altering classification their drug of interest is in. Each chapter starts out with their own brief history of their classification of drugs (ie. Depressants, stimulants, etc.) and follows up with anecdotes describing the effects that people experience while intoxicated by that drug. Perrine does a superb job at reflecting exactly what is going on in the body as far as chemical reactions go; he provides the reaction mechanisms for syntheses of the drugs as well as biosyntheses of the various neurotransmitters within the brain. Lastly, in the end of each chapter, Perrine displays an extensive reference section, providing multiple citations for readers interested in receiving more information from another given source that he briefly mentioned in this book.

The first chapter, Mind and Molecule, is designed to give the audience a taste of what is going to be mentioned in the book. It provides the reader with a short introduction (or review depending on what you already know) of what the major neurotransmitters in the brain are such as acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glycine, GABA, endorphins, histamine, adenosine, and brain gases. Along with that, this chapter also talks about what people consider addictions and how dependency leads to an addiction that alters not only one’s mind but daily life as well. At the end of this chapter, a pharmacological context behind these drugs is displayed, letting the reader know how toxicity levels can kill someone and how the actual drugs are made. This section is written for an audience that has some scientific background and is interested in the chemistry behind these drugs. The jargon is basic enough even for an average reader.

Opium and Opiods is obviously about the many different drugs that are classified in this fashion. The chapter starts with a brief history on the discovery of the opium poppy and then delves into the different types of opium found worldwide. Morphine, codeine, and heroin are described in this chapter with their histories, effects on the body and mind, as well as their production syntheses mechanisms with various organic materials/organisms. Opiods are also discussed like hydrocodone and oxycodone and their effects on the human body. Overall, this chapter is often confusing, even for someone with an extensive chemistry background; it is often very difficult to determine an opiods from an opium derivative. Treatment of these types of drugs is mentioned at the end of this chapter and is written again for a basic audience.

Depressants are the next classification of drugs mention in this book. Perrine begins with the most widely known depressant on earth: alcohol. Alcohol is extensively talked about in this chapter, talking about addiction, dependency, rehabilitation, and the factors given that affect the metabolism of alcohol. Benzodiazepines are the next depressant mentioned and how the central nervous system and sleep is affected by them, as well as the problems that arise with the consumption of these drugs. Specific ”benzos” are mentioned in this chapter as well as their histories. Lastly, barbiturates are mentioned starting with their discovery and how they stop convulsions in epileptic patients. Withdrawl symptoms of barbiturates can present delirium sessions that could end up life-threatening if the patient is alone. All in all, this chapter is full of information, but it presented with less synthesis mechanisms and more information as to the specific types of benzodiazepines and barbiturates there are so that any reader interested in information for a particular drug can briefly access it.

Stimulants are presented next within this book. Nicotine and tobacco are written together in such a way to provide the reader with the history and uses of each, which are most commonly seen hand in hand. Then, caffeine is talked about and how it is found in various analgesics such as aspirin and acetaminophen. Cocaine is the next drug that is seen within this chapter. The history, synthesis, and use of cocaine are presented via coca-cola as well as displaying various famous users of the drug including Sherlock Holmes and Sigmund Freud.  Other stimulants are briefly talked about in this chapter, most of which are not really known by the general public. 

Next, Antipsychotics and Antidepressants are mentioned by Perrine. First, the term psychosis is defined and how antipsychotics try to transform glycine across the blood brain barrier to interact with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the brain to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and the side effects that are present. The synthesis and mechanism of these drugs are clearly presented to the reader. Antidepressants are then mentioned and how depression is seen in many forms. Lithium is the most common antidepressant used for people with affective disorder such as depression. Other forms of antidepressants are also seen within this chapter such as SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and other disorders that are treated with these types of drugs. 

In the last two chapters, ‘Psychedelics’ and ‘Dissociatives and Cannabinoids’ are discussed. LSD is the main psychedelic drug talked about in the sixth chapter; it discusses the history behind the drug, its effects on a user’s mind, the experiences one faces while using the drug, and many more things the drug has to offer, both negative and positively. Many anecdotes and other psychedelics are seen within the sixth chapter, making it very general and informative for the average reader. In the seventh and final chapter, phencyclidine’s (PCP) history, pharmacology, and symptoms are seen in the chapter. Marijuana, the world’s most well known cannabinoid, is extensively mentioned in the last chapter and its history and uses seen all throughout the world. The pharmacology behind the THC found in marijuana is explained in detail as well providing the medicinal approach marijuana and its synthesis from various organic compounds. Other drugs in this classification are briefly mentioned and are written in a matter that kind of rolls through them as if they were the “boring” dissociatives and cannabinoids.

All in all, this book is written for an audience that must have a general knowledge of what some of these drugs are. With that, the book is designed for an audience that has quite the extensive chemical and pharmacological background. One must be familiar with synthesis reactions and organic figures to even begin to comprehend the material seen in the figures within each chapter. Without the necessary chemistry knowledge, the reader would be completely lost when referring to the figures. The anecdotes, however, are very general and could be read by essentially anyone. In the end, this book would be recommended for those scientists (or people with a chemistry background) who wish to pursue pharmacology or would just like to know more about the drugs that are seen on the streets and their mind altering effects.