Product Description

Doweiko's comprehensive text reflects the current explosion of information regarding the understanding, identification, and treatment of addictive disorders. In addition to his thorough examination of the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, barbiturates, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and hallucinogens, and his solid strategies for working with clients, Doweiko discusses topics frequently left out of other books--such as aerosols, steroids, and over-the-counter analgesics. Additionally, the text investigates such salient topics as the differences between abusers and addicts; drug effects on children, teenagers, and pregnant and nursing women; and children of alcoholics--ensuring that students gain a professional's understanding of one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73360 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-06
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Review
"This is an excellent graduate level test, the first that I’ve seen that provides an academic discussion of the biopsychoscocial aspects of substance abuse, at both individual and societal levels. The author is courageous enough to critically discuss many of the "sacred cows" of traditional substance abuse treatment literature, including Abstinence only programs, 12 Step programs (including the offshoots of CODA and ACOA), and the Minnesota treatment model. These discussions are even handed, drawing from research studies to support or question the "common knowledge" of addiction science; from diagnosis through treatment and long term recovery."

"This textbook provides the best overall introduction to substance abuse counseling. It can be used for beginning and advanced counselors."

Book Info
(Thomson Learning) Thoroughly updated to reflect current literature, this text includes comprehensive coverage of substance abuse, models of chemical dependency, basic pharmacology of drugs, effects on the user, dually diagnosed patients, and clinical implications. Discusses issues such as effects on neonates, children, and the family. Previous edition: c1998. Softcover.

About the Author
Dr. Howard E. Doweiko has been employed by the Department of Behavioral Health Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the past 14 years, working with the addictions treatment team, as well as more traditional psychotherapy populations. He teaches professional seminars at Gundersen-Lutheran and occasionally at other facilities. Dr. Doweiko is an adjunct professor at Viterbo University in La Crosse, and has served as an adjunct faculty member at various colleges in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews

Concepts of chemical dependency
Good information, especially for someone who has limited knowledge regarding chemical dependency. However, considering it is a textbook, it too opinionated for my taste. I perfer textbooks that are neutral and stick e ntirely to the facts.

Critique of Concepts of Chemical Dependency by Doweiko
This book gives a solid overview of chemicals of use/abuse, focusing particularly upon alcohol. The one caveat I have about recommending it unconditionally is that the author seems to interweave his bias along with the factual material, such that it is sometimes hard to tease out the actual facts from the propaganda. But the book is user-friendly and, if someone is wanting to get an overall sense of various substances of use/abuse and their effects, this book certainly has much to offer.