The Substance Abuse Handbook
PsycCRITIQUES: Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books (American Psychological Association), 21-MAY-08, Volume 53, Issue 21, John C. Roitzsch --  "My colleagues were kidding me about all of the highlighting I was doing as I was reading The Substance Abuse Handbook for review...Every page is filled with facts...There are many different substance abuse audiences with many different needs. The biologically oriented research scientist will be served with the coverage of genetic and biochemical properties of substance abuse. The treatment-oriented therapist will be served with the coverage of the different treatment approaches. The social scientist will be served with the coverage of substance abuse as a national health and legal problem. There are, of course, many who will be interested in many or all of the aspects of substance abuse, and they will be most served...   "There is very good coverage on the various substances of abuse. Included are legal and illegal substances. In addition to the usually covered substances such as alcohol and opiates (e.g., cocaine and marijuana), the section also includes chapters on amphetamines and other stimulants, sedative-hypnotics, and hallucinogens. And, to bring it up to date, the authors include chapters on inhalants and designer drugs. Finally there is coverage of the legal drugs-nicotine, caffeine, and anabolic steroids...   "For each of the substances covered, there is information on the pharmacology and neurophysiological aspects of the drug as well as medical consequences and current treatment approaches. Each chapter is essentially complete in itself, so if a reader wants to get a grasp of a particular substance, he or she needs to look in only one place...   "The coverage on the area of treatment modalities is very thorough. It includes how-to information on alcohol and most of the major types of drugs, as well as information on detoxification, pharmacological treatments (e.g., methadone and buprenorphine), and psychotherapies (e.g., individual and group therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, and Alcoholics Anonymous). There is also coverage of other therapies such as therapeutic communities and network therapy, and even a chapter on faith-based approaches...   "The authors address women's issues, especially how the pharmacology of drugs is different for females, as are the reasons for abuse...Also included is coverage of substance abuse across the life cycle, from children to adolescents to the elderly...Acknowledging that there are such variations between different sexes, different age groups, different settings (jails and prisons), for those suffering from disabilities, for those in the workplace, and for physicians and other health professionals seems to indicate that one size does not fit all and that we need to strongly emphasize the importance of a good case formulation. A worthwhile area for members of the medical profession covers general medical complications associated with drug use as well as specific conditions such as maternal and neonatal effects, HIV, acute and chronic pain, and co-occurring psychiatric disorders...   "The Substance Abuse Handbook is a valuable book full of helpful information for both the novice and the professional, and is worthy of a place in the library of individuals and agencies involved in the area of substance use."-PsycCRITIQUES: Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of B