Drugs and Controlled Substances: Information for Students. Stacey L. Blachford and Kristine Krapp, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 495 pp.

This single-volume resource provides detailed information on the physiological and psychological effects of addictive drugs and substances, from illegal drugs to commonly abused classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Entries cover the name of the drug, including official, street, variant and historical names; an overview of the substance; statistical analysis of the growth and decline of the use of the drug; mental, physiological and long-term effects of use; treatment and rehabilitation options; and much more.

Encyclopedia of Aging. David J. Ekerdt, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1591 pp. 4 vols.

Written by experts for a general audience, articles cover topics such as biology, medicine, economics, law, psychology, sociology, and history as they relate to aging. Illustrated with photos, graphs, and line drawings.

Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Jacqueline Longe, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 2411 pp. 4 vols.

Presents current, unbiased information on alternative and complementary medical practices, including reflexology, acupressure, acupuncture, chelation therapy, kinesiology, yoga, chiropractic, Feldenkrais, polarity therapy, detoxification, naturopathy, Chinese medicine, biofeedback, Ayurveda, and osteopathy. Information on recommended therapies for specific disorders and diseases, medicinal uses for plants and herbs, are balanced by conclusions of studies on efficacy and analysis of current levels of acceptance by traditional scientists and doctors.

Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer. Jacqueline Longe, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 1419 pp. 2 vols.

Comprehensive survey of 120 cancers, cancer drugs, traditional and alternative treatments, side effects and diagnostic procedures.

Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health: Infancy through Adolescence. Kristine Krapp and Jeffrey Wilson, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 2178 pp. 4 vols.

The set, which covers every major body system, is arranged into five main entry types: Diseases and Disorders; Development; Immunizations; Drugs; and Procedures. With a distinct emphasis on the health issues affecting children under the age of four, the Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health provides a much-needed service to new parents and promises to be a frequently used resource in any library.

Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Brigham Narins, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 1563 pp. 2 vols.

Provides clear, complete information on genetic disorders, including conditions, tests, procedures, treatments and therapies, in articles that are both comprehensive and easy to understand in language accessible to laypersons.

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 4475 pp. 5 vols.

Includes information on more than 1,600 medical disorders and concepts. Each article includes in-depth discussion of causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, procedures, and other related topics. Written for a general audience with an authoritative tone.

Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Ellen Thackery and Madeline Harris, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 1173 pp. 2 vols.

Includes entries for all 150 disorders classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, text revision (DSM-IV-TR). Also features entries for prescription, alternative, and over-the-counter drugs, as well as the various therapies used to treat mental disorders.

Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders. Stacey Chamberlin and Brigham Narins, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 1011 pp. 2 vols.

Provides in-depth coverage of neurological diseases and disorders, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, Tourette Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral palsy, vertigo, amnesia and epilepsy. Related topics include communication aids, electric personal assistive mobility devices, medications for treating neurological diseases and conditions, understanding the needs of Alzheimer patient caregivers and more.

Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Bonnie Strickland, Ed. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2001. 701 pp.

Covers the entire spectrum of psychology, including notable people, theories and terms, landmark case studies and experiments, applications of psychology in advertising, medicine and sports, and career information.

Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers. Anthony J. Senagore, M.D., Ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 1724 pp. 3 vols.

Written especially for patients and allied health care students by experts in the field, this encyclopedia covers approximately 450 surgical procedures and related topics, such as anesthetics, medications, and postoperative care. Entries include definition, purpose, demographic information, diagnosis/preparation, aftercare, risks, morbidity, and mortality rates, alternatives, and more.

Genetics. Richard Robinson, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 1144 pp. 4 vols.

A comprehensive collection of articles on all aspects of genetics, from Mendel to the decoding of the human genome. Explains the workings of genes and chromosomes, genetic diseases, and biotechnology. Also covers the ethical, legal, and social issues connected to genetic science. Includes full-color photos and line drawings, a glossary of scientific terms, and coverage of careers in the field.

Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z. Delores C.S. James, Ed. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 652 pp. 2 vols.

Examines the relationship between food and health on a historical, national, and personal level. Analyzes how nutrition has affected quality of life, health, and fitness in various countries at different times in history. Looks at the connections between diet and such diseases as beri-beri and scurvy, and the role nutrition plays in conditions such as weight and height increases, diabetes, and obesity. Historical as well as contemporary methods of treatment are presented from an international viewpoint. Also included are biographies of influential figures in the field of nutrition and medicine, dietary trends within various cultures, profiles of major organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and much more.

U*X*L Complete Health Resource. Rob Nagel and Betz Des Chenes, Eds. Detroit: U*X*L, 2001. 1672 pp. 10 vols.

This award-winning resource covers the causes symptoms, diagnoses, tests, treatments and prognoses of 140 health problems; the main systems of the human body, including the circulatory system, the endocrine system, special senses and much more; and a detailed examination of nutrition, and medical and mental health issues. Includes a general glossary, bibliography, and subject index.

U*X*L Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive Substances. Barbara Bigelow, Ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2006. 902 pp. 5 vols.

This set provides detailed information on 52 drugs and other addictive substances, defined as illegal drugs, legal addictive drugs and other substances as well as commonly abused classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Arranged alphabetically by official name, each entry follows the same format, allowing students to easily compare and contrast different drugs. Similar in scope to Thomson Gale's Drugs and Controlled Substances for Students, this set provides information in an objective manner that is appropriate for middle school students. Statistics highlight each entry and sidebars provide information on the legal, historical or social aspects of the particular drug. Difficult words are defined within the text and are included in the "Words to Know" section.

World of Microbiology and Immunology. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, Eds. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 699 pp. 2 vols.

Covers the concepts, theories, discoveries, and pioneers in microbiology and immunology for students, researchers, teachers, and librarians. Using a mix of traditional academic and topical articles, this title addresses current ethical, legal, and social issues with special emphasis given to biological warfare and terrorism.