Contemporary world issues

Explores the history of prescription drug abuse in the United States and how prevalent a problem it is, especially among student-aged men and women.

Examines the modern status of obesity in the United States and discusses how obesity has become something of an epidemic in the modern world. Explores why people become obese, how treatments and solutions to obesity work and do not work, and how to lose weight and keep it off.

Discusses the history and background of vaccination issues in the United States.

A reference handbook on organized crime, its history, current status, and key players on both sides of the law.

Provides an overview of the history of the gay rights movement since the mid-twentieth century, examines its main issues and international scale, contains brief biographical sketches of individuals involved, and includes documents dealing with the status of gay and lesbian rights as well as a list of print and electronic resources.

Presents a summary of ongoing controversies and historical background on the issue of animal testing; provides biographies of individuals and descriptions of organizations involved in the debate, and documents the historical shift in thinking after the nineteenth century that proposed alternative ways of conducting medical experimentation.

"This book is the THE source for information on virtual worlds, covering every aspect of this intriguing and fast-changing social practice and the technologies upon which it rests"--Provided by publisher.

Provides a brief understanding of the growing Latino population in the United States, highlights the problems that confront this ethnic group, and discusses proposed solutions to these issues.