Alcoholism and Other Drug Problems (Hardcover)

~ (Author), David Scratchley (Author) "MOST ARE AWARE that drugs are a major factor in our biggest social problems: violence, crime, poverty, AIDS, family disintegration-but many do not think of..." (more)
Key Phrases: calling addiction, addiction workers, alcoholism workers, Alcoholics Anonymous, New York, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Alcoholism and Other Drug Problems offers a balanced and comprehensive account of the nature, causes, prevention, and treatment of the nation's number one public health problem. This edition of Royce's award-winning text,Alcohol Problems and Alcoholism, has been extensively updated throughout by Royce and his coauthor David Scratchley, with new chapters on drugs other than alcohol to reflect the most recent research in the field.

Part I, "Alcohol and Other Drugs," examines the nature and impact of alcohol as a drug and discusses historical and contemporary cultural attitudes toward drinking in America. A new chapter on the effects that other drugs can have on the user and on the family, and treatment methods, has been added to this section. Part II, "Addiction," describes the patterns and symptoms of this complicated phenomenon. The authors also use new data to illustrate the impact that addiction can have on special groups such as children, minorities, and the elderly. Part III, "Prevention and Intervention," looks at the various techniques that have succeeded or failed in curbing drug abuse. Finally, Part IV, "Treatment and Rehabilitation," surveys the range of available treatment approaches with chapters on various twelve-step programs and new information on drugs and the law.

About the Author

James E. Royce, S.J., Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Addiction Studies at Seattle University. He is the author of Alcohol Problems and Alcoholism and coauthor of Ethics for Addiction Professionals.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 2 Sub edition (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684823144
• ISBN-13: 978-0684823140
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #721,195 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent detailed book on alcoholism, August 16, 2000

By A Customer

This book goes into more depth on alcoholism than any other I have found. This recent edition also includes information on other drugs. For a nuanced discussion of causation, disease concept, family effects, this is the book to buy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing statistics, August 22, 2001

By	E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I haven't read the entire book but have skimmed through it. I am amazed at the statistics recorded by the authors and how they are able to show the problems associated with alcohol and drugs from a medical standpoint. The authors treat alcoholism as a disease, which I have no problems with, but this doesn't mean that an alcoholic doesn't have any responsibility. They point out that alcohol-related problems costs our nation more than any other drug. Obviously the number of drunk-driving incidents shows that something is wrong in our culture.

I liked a number of things about the book, including the sociological aspects (a great history of alcohol in America is included as well as the cultural groups alcohol has most affected) and the section on prevention and intervention. Anyone who has been affected by alcohol--whether there is an alchoholic in the family or you yourself are addicted to it--ought to look through this book for a sobering look at what I feel is a genuine social epidemic.