"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.

This book fills the need for a text which makes the complex issues surrounding substance misuse accessible to both students and practitioners.

Complexity theorywhich examines the dynamic interactions of parts in a systemhas increasingly been used to study human organizations. This is the first book to explore its application to professions in criminal justice and social work. It brings together experts in this emerging theoretical field from a range of different perspectives, providing detailed but accessible discussions of the key issues at hand, including the nature of complex adaptive systems, their application to service delivery, and the efficacy and ethics of criminal justice and social work interventions. Together the...

Drug use is a major challenge for public services, healthcare professionals and policy-makers all over the world. This book offers a complete overview of the issues associated with substance misuse from an interdisciplinary perspective. It begins by providing a reference guide to the different psychoactive substances, looking at the biological and psychological impact of their use. Key issues in the effect drugs have on society are then addressed, before outlining methods of recovery and therapy.

Chapters include:

• Reflective questions to challenge readers' assumptions...