Part 1: Drugs, Democracy and Society Ethical Evaluations of Drug Use and Drug Policy - Aaron Pycroft The International and National Legislative Framework - Aaron Pycroft The Relationship Between Politics and Scientific Knowledge in Formulating Drug Policy - Aaron Pycroft Alternatives to Prohibition - Aaron Pycroft Part 2: Definitions and categories of psychoactive substances Sedatives - Aaron Pycroft Stimulants - Aaron Pycroft Opiates - Aaron Pycroft Hallucinogens - Aaron Pycroft Poly Drug Use - Aaron Pycroft Drugs with Mixed Effects - Aaron Pycroft New Psychoactive Substances (Legal Highs) - Rosanna Bartholomew Part 3: Understanding the Nature of Addiction Addiction as a Complex Adaptive System - Aaron Pycroft The Evolutionary Context - Aaron Pycroft Dependence Syndromes - Aaron Pycroft Psychological Perspectives - Aaron Pycroft Part 4: Interventions and Treatment Dual Diagnosis and the Context of Exclusion - Anita Green Harm Reduction - Tony Shea The concept of Recovery - Tim Leighton The Purposes and Methods of Detoxification from Illicit Drugs - Rebecca Lee The Purposes and Methods of Detoxification from Alcohol - Pam Campbell and Anne Spooner The Major Talking Therapies - Trevor Smith Buddhism and Addiction - Devin Ashwood Criminal Justice Interventions - Bernie Heath Evidence Based Practice, Research and Outcome Monitoring - Jane Winstone The Core Skills in Working with Substance Misuse - Angela Woods Whole Systems Approaches - Tony Wilkinson

Offers a complete overview of the issues associated with substance misuse from an interdisciplinary perspective. This book begins by providing a reference guide to the different psychoactive substances, looking at the biological and psychological impact of their use.