Social workers represent the largest body of addiction and mental health service providers, and there is a consistent need for up-to-date information. Social Work Practice in the Addictions is a comprehensive evidence-based volume. Contributing authors of this volume have been carefully selected to ensure representation of the leading social work addiction researchers. Additionally, researchers from other allied fields, including psychiatry, psychology, and public health, will also be involved to ensure a strong interdisciplinary perspective. Unlike other texts on addiction, this book incorporates ideas of social justice, practice with diverse communities, and ethics to represent the entire knowledge base of social work.

The Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behaviors is a definitive resource about addictive behaviors, emphasizing substance misuse, gambling, and problematic technology use. Contents address their prevalence in various communities and populations globally, theories related to their origins and etiology, and what is currently known about effective intervention strategies, education, and research. Social work’s biopsychosocial, lifespan, and person-in-environment perspectives underpin the book contents which are applicable to a wide range of professional and social science disciplines. Contents are divided into five sections: The scope and nature of addictive behavior and related problems Addictive behavior across the lifespan and specific populations Interventions to prevent and address addictive behavior and related problems Issues frequently co-occurring with addictive behavior Moving forward This handbook provides students, practitioners, and scholars with a strong focus on cutting-edge high-quality research. With contributions from a global interdisciplinary team of leading scholars, this handbook is relevant to readers from social work, public health, psychology, education, sociology, criminal justice, medicine, nursing, human services, and health professions.

It has long been recognised that clients with addiction problems need a skilled and thoughtful response when they come into contact with social services. However, students often find that policy and the law surrounding working with drug, alcohol and substance misusers can be complex and often unclear. This fully-revised third edition will help students cultivate the skills required to work effectively with clients and service users who misuse drugs and alcohol. There are clear introductions to the law and to social policy in this area, while the author considers how a holistic approach can be effective when working with this particular client group. Case studies and reflective exercises are used to draw out these key skills. The book also features sections on anti-oppressive practice with a focus on service user empowerment. With this third edition comes new material on social work practice with alcohol misusers, making this book even more essential reading for students and practitioners who want to engage with clients who struggle with addiction.

Substance use has become an increasingly common concern for all aspects of social work practice, and especially when working with mental health and vulnerable families. This requires all social workers to have sufficient education and training in alcohol and other drugs across a range of settings. This volume presents evidence from a number of major studies which examine the current state of social work education in relation to substance use. These contextual considerations are complemented by specific applied analyses which explore classroom, methodological, practice and theoretical considerations within both the UK and America. Substance Use in Social Work Education and Training provides a strong evidence base for the effectiveness of appropriately-targeted education and support given to social workers. It further substantiates calls for a greater inclusion of more on substance use in social work education and curricula. This book is based on a special issue of the journal Social Work Education.

Examine the worldwide phenomenon of substance abuse and addiction! International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions examines current social work practice in the addictions around the world. Researchers and practitioners address the abuse of and addiction to alcohol and other drugs and the current policies impacting the treatment of these substances in different countries. The book looks at the substances abused, the scope of the problems, the social reactions, the treatment approaches, and the role of professionals in addressing issues unique to each country, providing a more critical understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural influences on treatment systems. International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions presents cross-cultural perspectives on the effects of substance abuse and addiction on social policies, institutional practices, sources of funding, and social work methods. The book examines the rapid social changes that go hand in hand with increased rates of psychoactive substance problems and recognizes addiction as a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon that responds to intervention. The countries represented by the book's contributors include: Israel Ireland Germany Australia Singapore the Netherlands the United Kingdom the former Soviet Union and the United States International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions also includes book reviews related to cultural issues and a roundtable discussion concerning the legalization of drugs with perspectives from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This unique book is a vital resource for clinicians, academics, and researchers.

The editors of this volume have assembled recent articles discussing elements of each of the several commonly used psychosocial interventions -- including relapse prevention therapy, community reinforcement, voucher-based programs, self-help therapies, and motivational enhancement therapy--in addition to research-based articles that demonstrate the efficacy of these approaches. The selections in this book will provide the reader with a broad overview of the field as well as the specific information needed to use these therapies in a variety of clinical settings.

Examine the worldwide phenomenon of substance abuse and addiction! International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions examines current social work practice in the addictions around the world. Researchers and practitioners address the abuse of and addiction to alcohol and other drugs and the current policies impacting the treatment of these substances in different countries. The book looks at the substances abused, the scope of the problems, the social reactions, the treatment approaches, and the role of professionals in addressing issues unique to each country, providing a more critical understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural influences on treatment systems. International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions presents cross-cultural perspectives on the effects of substance abuse and addiction on social policies, institutional practices, sources of funding, and social work methods. The book examines the rapid social changes that go hand in hand with increased rates of psychoactive substance problems and recognizes addiction as a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon that responds to intervention. The countries represented by the book's contributors include: Israel Ireland Germany Australia Singapore the Netherlands the United Kingdom the former Soviet Union and the United States International Aspects of Social Work Practice in the Addictions also includes book reviews related to cultural issues and a roundtable discussion concerning the legalization of drugs with perspectives from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This unique book is a vital resource for clinicians, academics, and researchers.