Concepts of Chemical Dependency

Front Cover
Cengage Learning, Jan 1, 2011 - Psychology - 640 pages
Completely rewritten from cover to cover, the contemporary new 8th edition of CONCEPTS OF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY provides comprehensive coverage and the latest information on a full spectrum of substance use disorders and the compounds commonly abused. Topics include: the abuse of and addiction to alcohol; how the active agent in marijuana, THC, affects neural growth and development; the emerging body of evidence suggesting a relationship between marijuana abuse and psychotic disorders; the emerging body of evidence suggesting that marijuana is not as benign as it was thought to be even a few years ago; and updated information on the abuse of cough syrups, a trend that has evolved in adolescent substance abusers in the past decade. Adding to the book’s usefulness and relevance, Doweiko also covers topics not usually discussed in other substance abuse texts, including: abuse of anabolic steroids; inhalants; many of the forms of infectious disease associated with substance abuse; how the war on drugs has actually contributed to the problem of substance abuse/addiction in this country; the relationship between substance abuse and many infectious diseases; and the latest information on the medical marijuana debate. Providing a comprehensive overview of the problems of substance abuse and addiction, students report that they appreciate the author’s balanced approach in contrast to a tendency to preach to the reader that drugs are bad for you. Student feedback indicates that they value the clear and detailed information provided, allowing the student to form their own opinion about the compound(s) being discussed in each chapter.
Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

About the author (2011)

Dr. Harold E. Doweiko, a licensed psychologist, has been on the staff at the Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for 19 years. He works with the substance abuse rehabilitation program, the chronic pain management program and traditional adult mental health patients, including "dual diagnosis" patients. He has served with the La Crosse County Drug Court for several years, and as a professional witness on the topic of substance use disorders for federal and state courts in Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Dr. Doweiko has been an adjunct faculty member for colleges in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, most recently with the Viterbo University counselor education program in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Bibliographic information