Summary
Contents
Subject index
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 • Case studies to help students understand the impact of substances on individuals • Links to further resources to expand readers’ knowledge It will be valuable reading for those studying on degrees in criminology, health, nursing, social work and counselling.
Chapter 14: Dependence Syndromes
Dependence Syndromes
The World Health Organization (Babor et al., 2001) makes clear that there are different patterns of excessive drinking that can cause substantial risk or harm to individuals, including high level drinking each day, repeated episodes of drinking to intoxication, drinking that is actually causing physical or mental harm, and drinking that has resulted in the person becoming dependent or addicted to alcohol. They argue that excessive drinking causes illness and distress to the drinker and his or her family and friends and is a major cause of breakdown in relationships, trauma, hospitalisation, prolonged disability and early death.
The key questions then are how to create an adequate nomenclature to capture these issues of harm and problems, and crucially to identify and ...
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