Rethinking Substance Abuse

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.

Blowing Smoke argues that we are losing the drug war because of our devotion to the disease model of substance abuse. That model has become the driving force for our two main strategies in the war: prohibition laws and drug rehab. The book traces the history and science behind each to show how they paradoxically enable drug use.

Through the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the “disease model” of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease, based on evidence that brains change with drug use. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what it’s supposed to do—seek pleasure and relief—in a world that’s not cooperating. Brains are designed to restructure themselves with normal learning and development, but this process is accelerated in addiction when highly attractive rewards are pursued repeatedly. Lewis shows why treatment based on the disease model so often fails, and how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery, given the realities of brain plasticity. Combining intimate human stories with clearly rendered scientific explanation, The Biology of Desire is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally.

Views on addiction are often polarised - either addiction is a matter of choice, or addicts simply can't help themselves. But perhaps addiction falls between the two? This book contains views from philosophy, neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and the law exploring this middle ground between free choice and no choice.

This collection provides authoritative coverage of neurobiology of addiction, models of addiction, sociocultural perspectives on drug use, family and community factors, prevention theories and techniques, professional issues, the criminal justice system and substance abuse, assessment and diagnosis, and more.

Addiction: A biopsychosocial perspective provides students with an evidence-based approach to addiction whilst covering a broad range of topics, critical perspectives and influential theories in addiction. With chapters discussing key theories, psychological, biological and societal aspects of addiction, this is a highly accessible and essential resource for students and researchers that: Offers an evidence-based discussion of addiction Addresses the neuroscience and psychology of addiction Provides a critical account of the science and research in addiction Includes chapter overviews and summaries, learning aims and case studies to help students in their study

Explores the challenges faced by convicted offenders over the course of rehabilitation and reintegration. Each chapter focuses on a specific phase of the process.

The revised third edition of the formerly titled Substance Use and Abuse retains its comprehensive, holistic examination of the field of substance use and misuse from a Canadian perspective. Now organized into seven sections, the 30 chapters examine the nature of addiction; explore biological, psychological, and social theories that attempt to explain addiction; discuss drugs that produce addiction, along with a review of prevention, treatment, and treatment system options; and consider the legal and ethical issues that those working in substance use and addiction frequently encounter. Thoroughly updated to reflect contemporary issues and recent advances in the field of addiction counselling, Rick Csiernik’s much-loved text features new content on the changes to cannabis law and culture in Canada, the opioid crisis and public response, as well as expanded content on cultural competence, non-substance use addictive behaviours, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention. Substance Use and Misuse is an essential and timely resource for counsellors treating individuals dealing with addiction, and for courses across social work, human services counselling, psychology, and mental health and addictions programs. FEATURES: - Now divided into seven sections with 30 chapters to enhance student comprehension and learning - Contains new information on contemporary themes including the opioid crisis, e-cigarettes and vaping, risks and benefits of THC and CBD, principles of good family skills training, sample dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) activities, and a sample intervention script - Includes an enhanced treatment section with updates on harm reduction, traumainformed care, the transtheoretical model of change, and motivational interviewing