Evidence-Based Treatments for Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Evidence-Based Treatments for Alcohol and Drug Abuse encompasses the developments in the field over the last decade, blending theory, techniques and clinical flexibility.Research in the past decade has shown that substance abuse and substance dependence are treatable. The field has witnessed the introduction of evidence-based psychological and specific pharmacological treatments. Unfortunately, many of the empirical supported therapies for addictions are still not widely applied by practitioners. The third volume in the Practical Clinical Guidebooks Series (PCG), Evidence-Based Treatments for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, defines the characteristics, classification, and prevalence of substance use disorders, and provides the clinician with practical guidelines applicable across a variety of treatment settings and patient groups. Drawing on the recent research in the field, the authors provide the practicing clinician and student with an up-to-date understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, course and prognosis of substance abuse disorders that would be relevant to clinical practice. In addition to describing phenomenology and etiology, the book provides a comprehensive guide to the assessment and treatment of DSM-IV-TR substance abuse disorders (SUDs), including abuse and dependence of alcohol, stimulants, opiates, hallucinogens, cannabis/marijuana, sedative, and party drugs.

"Emmelkamp and Vedel’s new text gives hope to the substance abusing individual and evidence-based guidance to the treating therapist. It is well worth reading." – David W. Hunt, Journal of Addictive Diseases, 'The Authors have carefully assessed the research evidence in the field selecting what really matters to the clinician. They have provided clear and practical descriptions of the treatment approaches which may affect the course of alcohol and drug abuse. The book is a must for anyone working in the field and a superb synthesis of clinical wisdom and research understanding.' - Giovanni A. Fava, Editor-in-Chief of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics"[The authors] have set out to show in an evidence-based textbook that substance abuse and dependence are clearly treatable disorders of the mind. The husband and wife authors have collated and reviewed an enormous amount of basic research in an attempt to be a comprehensive and critical review of the latest research on substances, their abuse, and their fundamental treatment. Emmelkamp and Vedel's new text gives hope to the substance abusing individual and evidence-based guidance to the treating therapist. It is well worth the reading." - David W. Hunt, MS, DO, FACOFP, ASAM, Journal of Addictive Diseases

Paul M.G. Emmelkamp, Ph.D., is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Amsterdam and a practicing clinical psychologist and supervisor in mental health and addiction treatment centers. Ellen Vedel practices as a cognitive behavior therapy at the Jellinek Addiction Treatment Centre in Amsterdam, and is a research-fellow and lecturer at the department of Clinical Psychology at the University of Amsterdam.