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Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers
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Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers

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May 2010 | 184 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Understanding and Working with Substance Misusers explores the complex nature of addiction and the challenges involved in responding effectively through policy and practice. It examines the biopyschosocial elements of addiction to substances (including alcohol) and, draws together key research findings from these fields to present a new framework for integrating theory and practice.

The book argues that the best way to understand addictions is as examples of "complex self organising systems", which comprise many interacting component parts. In so doing, it addresses the problem of service users presenting with multiple needs (including poly drug use, mental health problems, criminal behaviour, unemployment and relationship difficulties) and the challenges that this poses for policy makers, services commissioners and practitioners alike.

This book fills the need for a text which makes the complex issues surrounding substance misuse accessible to both students and practitioners. As such, it fosters a multidisciplinary and critically reflective approach to policy and practice.

 
Introduction
 
Drugs and Drug Users in Context
 
The Policy Context and Legal Framework
 
From Disease to Dependency Syndrome
 
Harm Reduction Approaches
 
The Psychological Revolution
 
The Genetic Revolution and Disease Theory Revisited
 
Interventions and Equivocal Outcomes
 
Complex Adaptive Systems: A New Paradigm for Working with Addiction?
 
Pulling It All Together: An Extended Case Study

Very helpful insight for students

Mrs Tracey Brickell
School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Portsmouth University
November 4, 2015

A useful text for students who are interested in substance abuse.

Miss Janet Kay
Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cumbria
October 21, 2013

This informative booklet covers many areas of support in substance abuse, giving advise to readers on wider reading and organisations that specify with a range of substance misuses. I will be recommending this book to be used on access to health professions programmes also.It covers areas on protocol and gives clear points as well as case studies to analyse , that any learner studying on programmes about addictions would find helpful.

Miss Sam Ford
Health and Social Care, South Essex College
July 16, 2013

The book is written for the UK context and there are several South African contextual information not reflected in the text. Very valuable overall

Veonna Goliath
Environmental Health & Social Dev, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
December 18, 2012

An excellent read, clear and concise a helpful introduction to a subject that is surrounded by mythology and rumour

Gillian Rowe
Health & Social Care, Penwith College
June 2, 2012

Did not request this book

Mrs Rhian Barnes
Please select your department, Please select your institution
May 9, 2012

So clearly written you can read it for leisure!

Miss Desiree Jansen
HE and Skills, Accrington and Rossendale College
January 17, 2012

Clear and concise.
A very useful text that provides a sound knowledge and awareness into substance misuse and the support and approaches required for successful intervention. I will use this text on the degree programmes.

Mrs Rosemary Copeland
Health and Public Service , South essex College of F&HE
December 8, 2011

The text handles key concepts in the substance misuse field comprehensively well. The style of covering the contextual history and the histories of treatment philosophies before exploring ways forward is a refreshing departure from the mainstream.

Mr David Chaisty
Social Work , Cornwall College
August 18, 2011

A very useful text that provides a good insight into substance misuse and the support and approaches required for successful intervention. I use this text across a range of degree programmes as it has a wide target audience.

Mrs Catherine Williams
School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of East Anglia
July 18, 2011

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Paperback
ISBN: 9781847872623
£38.99

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781847872616
£120.00

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