Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment [Hardcover]

Marc A. Schuckit (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0387257322 | ISBN-13: 978-0387257327 | Edition: 6th

Mark Schuckit’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse has been a clinical mainstay for over a quarter century. Now the author’s trusted expertise is available in a new Sixth Edition, thoroughly revised for content, updated references, and streamlined for increased usefulness. Schuckit combines his experience as practitioner, researcher, and teacher to give professionals and students across the health and mental health disciplines a working knowledge of drug-related pathology, beginning with pharmacology, drug mechanisms, and genetic factors. And the Sixth Edition is as accessible as its predecessors, striking the right comfort level for the classroom or the emergency room. -Clinical/emergency orientation suited to both chronic misuse and acute situations -Coverage reflects current trends in alcohol, drug, and multidrug use, abuse, and dependence -Concise chapters for quick reference -Updated bibliography—approximately 80% of citations are post-2000 -Diagnostic information reflects upcoming changes to the DSM -Latest strategies in treatment (psychological and pharmacological) and rehabilitation   All material is organized for ease of use, whether the reader needs fast answers in a crisis, seeks new ideas for helping long-term patients or clients, or is just becoming familiar with the different drug classifications. This new edition offers expanded knowledge of a wide-ranging problem and a growing and clinically important population, and authoritative suggestions for effective care.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent text for the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse/dependence problems....The chapters are concise and the information delivered in a clear, precise manner. The two chapters on alcohol are particularly well donw....Overall, a very handy reference to have on your shelf. 5 stars!" Brett C. Pyler, MD, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Published in Doody's Book Review "In conclusion, Drug and Alcohol Abuse should be on the library shelf of any professional who deals with substance abuse or dependence issues. It also serves as a very helpful guide for students who are interested in pursuing a discipline that will involve working with individuals with substance use disorders. Dr. Schuckit has done a wonderful job in his sixth edition… ." Lon R. Hays, MD, MBA, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Published in The American Journal on Addictions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 402 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 6th edition (December 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387257322
• ISBN-13: 978-0387257327
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,304,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Book Provides Critical Guide to Treating Drug Emergencie, September 8, 2000

By 

Stewart B. Leavitt (Glenview, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnois and Treatment (Critical Issues in Psychiatry) (Hardcover)

Addiction Treatment Forum (www.atforum.com) book review; September 2000; Stewart B. Leavitt, PhD, Editor -- Simply put, Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment; 5th edition. is a book that may help save lives. In this 380 page text, Marc A. Schuckit, MD provides an overview of drug classifications and mechanisms, and covers the pharmacology and mental/physical effects of alcohol, depressants, stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, cannabis, and more. Most critical, there is an emphasis throughout the book on how to deal with emergency medical problems related to drug abuse, dependency, and overdose.

Schuckit, who is affiliated with the University of California Medical School and Veteran Affairs Healthcare System in San Diego, is a talented lecturer and he apparently writes like he speaks: clear and concise, technical but understandable. This 5th edition of his text dating back to 1979 includes a 70% updating of reference material with a focus on newer developments in pharmacotherapy, plus an all new chapter on prevention. The coverage of substances of abuse is all-encompassing; ranging from "Acid" (hallucinogens) to "Zoom" (stimulants), and everything imaginable in between.

How does one use a book like this? Schuckit recommends skimming all of the chapters covering the many drug classes, including descriptions of individual drugs and associated pathology, then rereading sections of particular interest. From there, the book can serve as a handbook, kept nearby for easily-accessed advice on dealing with drug-related crises or confirming suspected drug-induced symptomatology appearing in clinical settings. The text is fully indexed and evidence-based, with research references listed at the end of each of the 16 chapters.

Certainly, medical practitioners will find this book invaluable. It also could be an essential reference for nursing staff, psychologists, counselors, social workers, and other professionals who need a quick, handy, clinically-oriented manual on alcohol and other drug problems.

Schuckit MA. Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment; 5th edition. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers; January 2000. ISBN 0306462303. Available online from www.Amazon.com ($49.95 + shipping) and at other booksellers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive text for medical management of addictions, July 1, 2006

By 

James A. Swartz "JASwartz" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment (Hardcover)

This year, I needed a comprehensive text to help me put together a lecture on substance use disorders for psychiatrists taking their board exams. It had been some time since I, a psychologist who conducts research on co-occurring disorders, had updated myself generally on current knowledge regarding substance use disorders. This text was very useful for this purpose; I can see it being a useful reference guide for medical practioners concerned with treating those with substance use disorders. I found Schuckit's classification of substances by their effects (depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens) rather than trying to present information on similar-acting drugs individually (cocaine, amphetamines) particularly useful. The chapters are concise and well-written and loaded with details as noted by the previous reviewer.

That said, I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because as a comprehensive guide, it gives relatively short shrift to psychosocial treatments. Whereas each chapter on drug classes goes into step-by-step detail about, for example, treating symptoms of acute withdrawal or intoxication for a particular drug class, there is only a single chapter at the end of the text regarding psychosocial treatments. That chapter is too short and lacks sufficient detail to cover recent developments such as the inclusion of evidence-based practices (e.g., motivational interviewing, trauma reduction therapies) into many treatment regimens. And although published in 2005, knowledge on pharmacological treatments in conjunction with psychosocial treatments such as the results of the recent COMBINE study (acamprosate and naltrexone plus CBT for treating alcoholism) are not included in detail.

To be fair, research is moving far too fast for any text to be completely up-to-date by the time of publication. However, this exclusion simply calls attention to the lack of coverage of psychosocial treatments generally.

In short then, this text is recommended as a primer and a guide to medical management of substance use disorders and will be of particular use to those working in emergency rooms or detoxification centers. Those working in longer term programs needing guidance on the management of addiction disorders through the post-acute and relapse management phases should consider a different text.

5.0 out of 5 stars overseas customer, April 19, 2009

By 

Regis Dewes (Brazil,Lajeado,RS) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment (Hardcover)

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