Treating Substance Abuse: Theory and Technique

This widely used reference and text captures the breadth of current knowledge about substance abuse and its treatment. Noted theoreticians and practitioners provide an authoritative introduction to the six most prominent psychosocial treatment approaches. For each approach, a chapter on basic assumptions and theories is followed by a clinical chapter that describes specific therapist actions and strategies and offers a start-to-finish view of treatment. In addition, a single chapter discusses psychopharmacological interventions. Comprehensive, clear, and accessible, the text concludes by discussing ways to integrate elements of multiple approaches into carefully planned work with individual clients.

Michael Easton

This aim of this book is to review and highlight five models for the psychosocial treatment of addictive disorders. It reviews the theory behind each model along with providing clinically oriented chapters demonstrating their implementation. Its purpose is to address the increasing need for a widening array of treatments for substance abuse disorders. It looks at 12-step treatment, psychoanalytic therapy, behavioral therapy, marital/family therapy, and motivational techniques. It reviews the theory, empirical data, and application of each in an attempt to assess the advantages and shortcomings. The book is written for a wide array of health professionals clinically involved with chemically dependent patients. It is especially for clinicians with limited knowledge of alternative treatments for these individuals. The book has no illustrations, with few tables or charts. It is well referenced and very up-to-date. The editors and authors are experts in their particular areas. This is one of few publications that attempts to objectively look at a variety of treatment models for substance abuse disorders. The book presents their theoretical basis along with reviewing some of the empirical research supporting each model. After the theoretic description of each model it presents clinically oriented chapters. These give examples describing the implementation of various techniques along with case examples. The authors look at both the effectiveness and problems with each treatment model. This book will be valuable to a wide range of clinicians interested in treatment modalities for these disorders. It will be especially useful to clinicians looking to expand the treatment options fortheir patient population.

Frederick Rotgers, Psy.D., is Assistant Research Professor at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies, with a joint appointment at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. He is Director of the Center of Alcohol Studies Consultation and Treatment Service, and an active clinician as well as researcher.

Daniel S. Keller, Ph.D., is Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine. Previously, he served as a faculty member of the Center of Alcohol Studies, Clinical Division, Rutgers--The State University of New Jersey.

Jon Morgenstern, Ph.D., is Assistant Research Professor at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies, an Associate Member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, and an active researcher conducting studies on the treatment of substance abuse, which are funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.