Drugs, Stress and Human Function is written for non-major, general education courses in human biology. Based on the premise that students will most readily and effectively learn about what interests and relates to them, the book explores biology from the perspective of health-related issues and experiences that are relevant to all.

Building on a nature versus nurture approach, the book presents an integrated view of all major organ systems and explains human biology using real and relevant topics, such as reproduction, stress, nutrition, aging, disease, and drugs.

In contrast to many other textbooks in the field, Drugs, Stress and Human Function is written in a clear, concise manner, free of the scientific jargon that is often inaccessible to students. The material emphasizes "how it works"--conveying important concepts in an understandable and meaningful way and using simple, straightforward illustrations to clarify information and enhance student learning.

The book begins with an overview of the human body. Students then learn about biology at the molecular and cellular levels. Subsequent chapters move the study of biology from the minute to the experiential. The topics addressed include:

- Barriers of the Body
- The Brain
- The Immune System
- Infections and Cancer
- Pain

Drugs, Stress and Human Function is an excellent text for introductory courses in biology.

Richard Almon earned his B.S. in Psychology and Mathematics, his M.S. in Physiology, and his Ph.D in Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Illinois. Dr. Almon is an active researcher with academic appointments in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences at the State University of New York, Buffalo. He has over 30 years of experience teaching non-major biology courses such as pharmacology and nutrition, as well as graduate level endocrinology. His research specialization is in systems biology, an interdisciplinary area that integrates a number of disciplines ranging from physiology to molecular biology. Dr. Almon has over 120 scientific publications to his credit.

Debra DuBois earned her B.S. in Human Genetics at McGill University and her M.S. and Ph. D. in Biological Sciences at the State University of New York, Buffalo. Dr. DuBois holds academic appointments in the departments of Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the university. In conjunction with Dr. Richard Almon, she has more than 90 scientific publications to her credit. Her work investigates phenomena such as autoimmunity, gravitational biology, muscular dystrophy, fetal metabolic programming, arthritis, and diabetes from the genetic to the systems level.

Amanda S. Almon is a certified Medical Illustrator. She earned her B.F.A. in Medical Illustration at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and her M.F.A. at the University of Michigan, where she completed the AMI accredited program in Biomedical Illustration. She is an associate professor and the Head of Biomedical Art at the Cleveland Institute of Art, and an adjunct professor of anatomy at Case Western Reserve University.