The Addiction Spectrum

"If anyone you know is struggling with addiction—or if you think you might have a problem—you want to read this book.”—GARTH STEIN, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "a proven, comprehensive program that compassionately guides the reader to a place of resolution"—DAVID PERLMUTTER, MD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and, Brain Maker "a massive achievement and a giant step forward for addiction medicine"—ANNIE GRACE, author of This Naked Mind Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under fifty. Even as opiate addiction skyrockets, more people than ever before are hooked on alcohol, sedatives, cigarettes, and even screens. The face and prevalence of addiction has changed and evolved, but our solutions to addiction are stuck in the past. We’ve been treating addiction as a black or white issue, a disease you either suffer from or will never suffer from. The problem with this model is that it doesn’t account for the incredible forces working against all of us, pushing all of us toward addiction: stress, undernourishment, sleep-deprivation, vitamin D deficiency, and isolation, not to mention a flawed medical system and corrupt pharmaceutical companies doling out prescriptions at every turn. The truth: Addiction is a disease that, like many others, exists on a spectrum. We are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to substances at certain points in our lives and based on the evidence provided in The Addiction Spectrum, most effective at kicking addiction when we take a holistic approach. With the help of the 13-point plan and individual protocols detailed in this book, you have the power to change your destiny. No one understands this more than Dr. Paul Thomas, who recovered from alcohol addiction early in his career and founded one of the most effective rehabilitation centers for teens and young adults in his hometown of Portland, OR. Named one of the top family doctors and one of the top pediatricians in the country, Dr. Paul is also board-certified in both integrative medicine and addiction medicine. This unique combination of specialties is intentional: Dr. Paul has devoted his entire life and career to saving lives. Using the best conventional medicine alongside the new science of alternative health, Dr. Paul has treated thousands of patients with the life-saving solutions provided in The Addiction Spectrum. Addiction is a compendium of often devastating circumstances that have gone unchecked by society for far too long. This book is a positive light and guide to overcoming not only addiction but the challenges and obstacles that affect us all.

Reflecting the latest content in the DSM–5, The Spectrum of Addiction presents a comprehensive overview of addictive behaviors and habits from early use through risky use, severe-risk use, and addiction. Authors Laura Veach and Regina Moro draw from their experience in both teaching and counseling to provide real-world knowledge and evidence-based practices for working with clients who fall within the spectrum of addiction ranging from experimentation to physical addiction and recovery. With a unique focus on neuroscience, integration of CACREP standards, and extensive coverage of addictions across the lifespan, the book serves as a practical resource for future addiction counselors. The Spectrum of Addiction is part of SAGE’s Counseling and Professional Identity Series.

Reflecting the latest content in the DSM–5, The Spectrum of Addiction: Evidence-Based Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment Across the Lifespan presents a comprehensive overview of addictive behaviors and habits from early use through risky use, severe-risk use, and addiction. Authors Laura Veach and Regina Moro draw from their experience in both teaching and counseling to provide real-world knowledge and evidence-based practices for working with clients who fall within the spectrum of addiction ranging from experimentation to physical addiction and recovery. With a unique focus on neuroscience, integration of CACREP standards, and extensive coverage of addictions across the lifespan, the book serves as a practical resource for future addiction counselors.

Addiction is increasingly being recognized as a major global public health issue, and an ever-growing number of medical specialties, psychological and social science training programs, and professional associations are including addiction as part of their training and continuing education curricula. The first edition of this book presented an overview of the spectrum of addiction-related problems across different cultures around the globe. Sharing the experience and wisdom of more than 260 leading experts in the field, and promoted by the International Society of Addiction Medicine, it compared and contrasted clinical practices in the field of addiction medicine on the basis of neurobiological similarities as well as epidemiological and socio-cultural differences. Building on the success of this inaugural edition, and taking into account the formal and informal comments received as well as an assessment of current need, this textbook presents general updated information while retaining the most requested sections of the first edition as demonstrated by the number of chapter downloads. It also provides a basic text for those preparing for the ISAM annual certification exam. Written by some 220 international experts, it is a valuable reference resource for anyone interested in medicine, psychology, nursing, and social science.

An accessible and reassuring guide to childhood health and immunity from a pediatrician who’s both knowledgeable about the latest scientific research and respectful of a family’s risk factors, health history, and concerns In The Vaccine-Friendly Plan, Paul Thomas, M.D., presents his proven approach to building immunity: a new protocol that limits a child’s exposure to aluminum, mercury, and other neurotoxins while building overall good health. Based on the results from his pediatric practice of more than eleven thousand children, as well as data from other credible and scientifically minded medical doctors, Dr. Paul’s vaccine-friendly protocol gives readers • recommendations for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth • vital information about what to expect at every well child visit from birth through adolescence • a slower, evidence-based vaccine schedule that calls for only one aluminum-containing shot at a time • important questions to ask about your child’s first few weeks, first years, and beyond • advice about how to talk to health care providers when you have concerns • the risks associated with opting out of vaccinations • a practical approach to common illnesses throughout the school years • simple tips and tricks for healthy eating and toxin-free living at any age The Vaccine-Friendly Plan presents a new standard for pediatric care, giving parents peace of mind in raising happy, healthy children. Praise for The Vaccine-Friendly Plan “Finally, a book about vaccines that respects parents! If you choose only one book to read on the topic, read The Vaccine-Friendly Plan. This impeccably researched, well-balanced book puts you in the driver’s seat and empowers you to make conscientious vaccine decisions for your family.”—Peggy O’Mara, editor and publisher, Mothering Magazine “Sure to appeal to readers of all kinds as a friendly, no-nonsense book that cuts through the rhetoric surrounding vaccines. It offers validation to those who avoid some or all, while offering those who do want to vaccinate help on how to do so safely. This is a great book for anyone with children in their lives.”—Natural Mother “A valuable, science-supported guide to optimizing your child’s health while you navigate through complex choices in a toxic, challenging world.”—Martha Herbert, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School “An impressively researched guide, this important book is essential reading for parents. With clear and practical advice for shielding children from harmful toxins, it will compel us all to think differently about how to protect health.”—Jay Gordon, M.D., FAAP “Rather than a one-size-fits-all vaccine strategy, the authors suggest thoughtful, individualized decisions based on research and collaboration between parents and clinicians—a plan to optimize a child’s immune system and minimize any risks.”—Elizabeth Mumper, M.D., founder and CEO, The Rimland Center for Integrative Pediatrics “This well-written and thought-provoking book will encourage parents to think through decisions—such as food choices and the timing of vaccines—that affect the well-being of their children. In a world where children’s immune systems are increasingly challenged, this is a timely addition to the literature.”—Harriet Lerner, Ph.D., bestselling author of The Dance of Anger and The Mother Dance

What Richard Clark presents in The Addiction Recovery Handbook: Understanding Addiction and Culture is long overdue. Since 1939, Bill Wilson’s important and influential books, Alcoholics Anonymous and AA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, have helped millions of people struggling with addiction to recover. In more than 80 years since then, a lot has changed: the definition of addiction, its demographics, social attitudes to addiction, politics, religious influence, treatment modalities, and the epidemiology of the illness. These have taken tolls on our modern network of relationships and treatment that culture and community now depend upon. The Addiction Recovery Handbook examines the changing historical views of addiction, outlines how this culture developed its contemporary perceptions and values, and how society contributes to this growing problem. Richard Clark proposes AA’s traditional religious model of God’s help-and-forgiveness can no longer address the needs of a diverse and largely irreligious society where atheism is becoming mainstream. His updated analysis of the traditional ‘AA’ approach proposes that self-understanding and awareness—through knowledge and education, psychology, and compassion, be the significant components of any recovery framework. This will guide both caregivers and addicts to develop expertise regarding more successful treatment and recovery protocols. This would be in a supportive environment of self-knowledge and mutual respect, whether theist or atheist. All concerned will acquire the ability to live a spiritual life, which is clearly defined. The Addiction Recovery Handbook is an interesting and readable book and is intended for everyone: addicts, medical professionals, counsellors, therapists, clients, sponsors, social workers, family members, partners, friends, employers—every stakeholder in a healthy, non-judgmental society that cares about the wellbeing of all its members.

About Addictions provides a perspective for clear thinking about what to do, rather than how to feel about addiction and addiction spectrum disorders. Richard Gray provides the reader with data from Psychology, Neuroscience and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, that will allow clear thought about the nature of these problems and what can be done. As he says in his introduction, this is a book to think with. It is short on doctrine and long on practical information about the nature of addictions and the structure of motivations for change.Gray provides information about diagnosis, reports on studies that say something very important about 'addictive substances' and research in neuroscience, motivation, and preference hierarchies. He provides techniques and perspectives from Neuro-Linguistic Programming to suggest some novel approaches to treating the problem.

Hello, I'm Jerry, army vet and a recovering addict. I wrote this book to help me stay sober but realized that if it could help keep a hopeless addict like myself sober then why wouldn't it help others? I have been blessed with another chance at life and so can you. I have tried to break down the addiction matrix, how addiction affects your mind and the tricks is uses to manipulate us to keep us in active addiction. We all know how dangerous that sweet voice of addiction can be, we've listened to it over and over again. The hardest step (to me) towards recovery was the very first step, admitting that I was a real addict and that I could not, would not, control my usage. I have broke down things that are helping me but we're all wired differently so you have to find what works for you. Thank you for reading this book and if you liked it please leave feedback or comments. Thank you and good luck!!