Drugs and Behavior : A Sourcebook for the Human Services

Designed for those working in psychotherapy, social work, public health and counselling, this reference work explores the effects of drug abuse on human behaviour and describes various treatment approaches. Patterns of abuse and the appropriate treatments are related to age, gender and ethnicity.

If you′re looking for a practical, clearly written resource on substance abuse education, then look no further than Drugs and Behavior. This impressive volume offers the most comprehensive examination to date on this topic. Relevant psychopharmacological and central nervous system information is presented, the impact of the family and community upon the abuse of drugs is discussed, and descriptions of various drugs (hashish, alcohol, CNS depressants, hallucinogens, nicotine, and marijuana) are provided. And, unique to this volume are topics traditionally excluded from other resources, including etiological and explanatory theories, assumptions involved in different treatment modalities, and alcohol and drug use patterns among special populations, namely patterns related to age, ethnicity, and gender. Written in a language that students can readily comprehend, this fascinating volume is ideal for undergraduate and graduate level courses on substance abuse. It also serves as an excellent resource for human services and professionals working in areas that involve substance use and abuse. "In the space of five chapters, the book covers medical aspects of treatment, self-help groups, group therapy, family systems and family therapy, and individual treatments before what is one of the most interesting sections of the book on ′Special Populations.′ This four-chapter section provides excellent summaries of (until now) neglected areas of research, concentrating on addiction issues in adolescents, women, lesbians and gay men, and ethnic minorities. The final part of the book concerns ′Special Issues′ such as prevention strategies, treatment efficacy and policy issues which taken together with previous chapters add up to a highly readable (and interdisciplinary) account of psychoactive drugs and their effect on human behavior." --British Journal of Clinical Psychology "This clearly written resource book on substance abuse education is a useful and authoritative addition to the literature. . . . Each chapter is well written and referenced. I recommend it to those following courses in substance abuse and addictive behaviour, to specialist workers in the drug and alcohol field and to those members of the helping professions whose work brings them in contact with clients/patients with drug and alcohol problems." --Journal of Advanced Nursing