Basic Substance Abuse

A guide to the techniques and analysis of clinical data. Each of the seventeen sections begins with a drawing and biographical sketch of a seminal contributor to the discipline. After an introduction and historical survey of clinical methods, the next fifteen sections are organized by body system. Each contains clinical data items from the history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations that are generally included in a comprehensive patient evaluation. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The LGBTQ community is especially vulnerable during times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. This resource offers specific and gay positive advice, information, and help for gay addicts and those who love and care for them. A timely reference that addresses the unique issues of gay men in recovery. Winner of the 2012 Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award -- GLBT Category! Gay Men and Substance Abuse fills a tremendous void, serving as a valuable resource for gay men, professionals, concerned partners, friends, and family members in need of solid information and guidance.Whether faced with a traumatic coming out process, caught up in personal struggles with body image, engulfed in the club culture, or navigating a family system that does not accept his sexuality, a gay man struggling with substance abuse or addiction often faces cultural and personal challenges unique to his life experiences. Yet many men and their loved ones in search of help are forced to adjust to a traditional treatment system, or self-help groups that center on heterosexual relationships, and family groups that neglect to include partners or address what can be a uniquely challenging family dynamic.By exploring the social and psychological factors that play into homosexual men's addictions, nationally certified treatment counselor Michael Shelton presents a timely, comprehensive look at best practices in meeting the unique needs of gay men in recovery, offering keen insight on a range of issues, including:such common therapeutic approaches as motivational enhancement therapy and 12 Step strategiessuccessful relapse prevention protocolstools for recovery from co-occurring sexual disordersthe importance of a loved one's role with regard to intervention and supportthe complicated relationship between gay male drug use and sexual behaviorhow to talk knowledgeably, and with care and sensitivityAbout the author Michael Shelton, M.S., C.A.C., is a nationally certified treatment counselor and does clinical work with males with substance abuse and sexual disorders at four facilities in Philadelphia. He's the author of four other books, including Boy Crazy: Why Monogamy Is So Hard for Gay Men and What You Can Do About It.

All across the United States, individuals, families, communities, and health care systems are struggling to cope with substance use, misuse, and substance use disorders. Substance misuse and substance use disorders have devastating effects, disrupt the future plans of too many young people, and all too often, end lives prematurely and tragically. Substance misuse is a major public health challenge and a priority for our nation to address. The effects of substance use are cumulative and costly for our society, placing burdens on workplaces, the health care system, families, states, and communities. The Report discusses opportunities to bring substance use disorder treatment and mainstream health care systems into alignment so that they can address a person's overall health, rather than a substance misuse or a physical health condition alone or in isolation. It also provides suggestions and recommendations for action that everyone-individuals, families, community leaders, law enforcement, health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers-can take to prevent substance misuse and reduce its consequences.

Suitable for use by students preparing to take the Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) exams, this text provides and introduction to alcoholism and drug addiction.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge concerning neuropathologies resulting from drug abuse. The first chapters offer readers detailed information on the neurobiological basics of drug abuse and the results of neuroimaging studies in drug abusers. The focus of the book is on neuropathological findings in drug abusers for the predominant substances, which include cannabis, opiates, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and a broad spectrum of designer drugs. These findings are supported by histological illustrations and discussed in connection with recent scientific publications. A chapter specifically addressing clinicians is also included, and highlights the implications for further therapy. The book is essential reading for neuropathologists, neurologists, neuroradiologists and psychiatrists, as well as other health professionals and scientists interested and engaged in the problem of drug abuse. Although a great deal of data has been derived from animal models and from human neuroimaging studies, little is known about the morphological effects of drug abuse on the human brain. In recent years, fundamental drug-induced effects on the cellular elements of the brain have been detected. These alterations might not only be the substrate of the neuroimaging data but might also have implications for clinical research and therapy. In addition, drug abuse may induce premature neurodegeneration.

While knowledge on substance abuse and addictions is expanding rapidly, clinical practice still lags behind. This book brings together leading experts to describe what treatment and prevention would look like if it were based on the best science available. The volume incorporates developmental, neurobiological, genetic, behavioral, and social–environmental perspectives. Tightly edited chapters summarize current thinking on the nature and causes of alcohol and other drug problems; discuss what works at the individual, family, and societal levels; and offer robust principles for developing more effective treatments and services.

This book focuses on the similarities and differences between substance and non-substance addictions. It discusses in detail the mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of substance and non-substance addictions, and addresses selected prospects that will shape future studies on addiction. Addiction is a global problem that costs millions of lives tremendous damage year after year. There are mainly two types of addition: substance addiction (e.g., nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, heroin, stimulants, etc.) and non-substance addiction (e.g., gambling, computer gaming, Internet, etc.). Based on existing evidence, both types of addiction produce negative impacts on individuals’ physical, mental, social and financial well-being, and share certain common mechanisms, which involve a dysfunction of the neural reward system and specific gene transcription factors. However, there are also key differences between these two types of addiction. Covering these aspects systematically, the book will provide researchers and graduate students alike a better understanding of drug and behavioral addictions.