Health and Disease in Society

Consumed for a wide range of reasons, substances that alter a person's mood and mind are widespread in most societies. Although many such substances initially had been valued for their medicinal properties, their usage can have health-endangering consequences, including habit formation. The misuse or abuse of legal and illicit drugs and alcohol engender numerous public health concerns over time. This analytical volume examines the physical, ethical, and public policy issues that have arisen as the result of excessive and inappropriate substance use.

As the world's population expands, so too does the risk of communicable disease and global pandemics. Consequently, healthcare has assumed a greater centrality in the public consciousness both in the United States and around the world. With various national and international organizations dedicated to epidemiological research and disease control, societal welfare has become an increasingly significant aspect of public policy. The historical, legal, and scientific factors that form the basis of public health locally and globally are the subjects of this relevant and revealing volume.

The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease remains a challenging undertaking as emerging disorders and pandemics are constantly presenting new opposition. Behind the practice of medicine is a treasury of great minds and healers who have endeavored tirelessly at the forefront of disease management. This compelling volume introduces readers to the development of medicine over the centuries and to those intrepid individuals who have dedicated their lives to safeguarding the welfare of people around the world.

Outbreaks of infectious disease pose some of the greatest public health risks to humans across the globe. Although an increasing number of preventative measures and cures are available against a number of these threats, many are still untreatable or have no remedy. However, the human response to these diseases has matured as increasing awareness and new scientific research emerges. This volume examines the many causes and effects of bacterial, viral, and other forms of disease, as well as the various steps taken over time to mitigate the damaging consequences of infection.