Substance
    Abuse

... research resources for counselling students

Web Destinations

Key Sites for Practitioners

American Society of Addiction Medicine
The American Society of Addiction Medicine is devoted to educating doctors and improving treatment for addicted individuals. Through it, one may find a doctor specializing in addictions. Addiction Medicine News features current events and articles concerning the special medical needs of addicted persons. ASAM publishes the Journal of Addictive Medicine, and the website contains abstracts of current articles. In addition, there is professional information for physicians specializing in addictions medicine.
http://www.asam.org

Mental Health Net—Substance Abuse Links
This site contains a comprehensive list of websites, newsgroups, and professional organizations in the addictions field. Websites on this site are rated on a helpful four-star system and are annotated.
http://mentalhelp.net

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information Publications Catalog
This site contains a listing of available government publications, including publications by the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
http://store.health.org/catalog/facts.aspx?topic=3

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence provides information aimed at the fight against addiction. The site also contains a resource and referral guide and an online communications center.
http://ncadd.org

National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse comes under the auspices of the National Institute of Health. The home page includes news releases, publications, and general information on drug abuse.
http://www.nida.nih.gov

Prevention Primer
The Prevention Primer site is a reference page for professionals who work to prevent addictions. The description on the website concisely summarizes its contents: "The Prevention Primer is an excellent reference tool for prevention practitioners. It incorporates the principles of a public health approach to preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems in its summaries of issues and strategies. It provides a brief history of prevention efforts and an overview of key topics, issues, principles, and approaches that have proven successful." The topics are indexed in alphabetical order.
http://www.health.org/govpubs/phd627

Treatment Improvement Exchange (TIE)
The Treatment Improvement Exchange (TIE) site provides information on substance abuse treatments and on the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Access is provided to documents and resources pertaining to the care of abuse and addiction victims. There are links to articles from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), its services and funding, as well as links to other substance abuse treatment sites.
http://www.treatment.org/index.html

Key Sites for Client Information

Al-Anon/Alateen
Al-Anon and Alateen are national organizations for the families and friends of alcoholics. Using a 12-step program, both organizations provide support for members dealing with the effects of an alcoholic family member. This site provides an organization history, a list of phone numbers for world services, a monthly journal, and information to get in touch with Al-Anon/Alateen.
http://www.al-anon.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous
The Alcoholics Anonymous website can be accessed in English, French, or Spanish. The site contents include a fact file, newcomer information, and a message to teenagers, as well as information for professionals. This is also an excellent resource to find a meeting near your home or when traveling.
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Cocaine Anonymous
The purpose of Cocaine Anonymous World Services Online is to provide information to assist in the recovery and sobriety of persons addicted to mind altering substances. Literature is available in English, French, and Spanish.
http://www.ca.org

Focus Adolescent Services
This is an excellent website with resources, seminars, books, and schools for parents dealing with adolescents. The topics include normal developmental issues, mental disorders, suicide, and substance abuse.
http://www.focusas.com/index.html

Web of Addictions
The Web of Addictions is intended to counteract pro-drug messages and to be a resource for teachers, students, and others needing accurate information about drugs. This page presents sections on facts, a Rolodex, in-depth topics, places to go to get help with addictions, and links to related resources.
http://www.well.com/user/woa

Professional Development

Professional Organizations

While many counselors working in addictions belong to the American Counseling Association, ACA has no division specifically for substance abuse.

NBCC Specialty Certification as a Master Addiction Counselor
The national board of certified counselors offers a special credential for certified counselors as an MAC, or Master Addictions Counselor. Requirements for certification include general certification as an NCC, experience, coursework, professional assessments, and examination.
http://www.nbcc.org/

National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors
This organization admits members who are working in the field of addictions, even those not licensed to practice counseling. They hold conventions, publish a practitioner's magazine, and have a code of ethics.
http://www.naadac.org

Codes of Ethics

While the American Counseling Association and the National Board for Certified Counselors have overall codes of ethics, none are specific for substance abuse. American Counseling Association
http://www.counseling.org/content/navigationmenu/resources/ethics/ aca_code_of_ethics.htm

NBCC Code of Ethics
http://www.nbcc.org/depts/ethicsmain.htm

National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Counselors Code of Ethics
http://naadac.org

Annotated Bibliography

Foundational Works

Bennett, G. (Ed.). (1989). Treating drug abusers. New York: Tavistock/Routledge.
Bennett's is a general text on drug abuse treatment, including information on mental health services and the role of community mental health centers, including outpatient treatment. It also specifically addresses narcotic addiction.

Beschner, G. M., & Friedman, A. S. (Eds.). (1979). Youth drug abuse: Problems, issues, and treatment. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.
This book deals specifically with the youth population and drug abuse in the United States and contains a great deal of information on early treatment and issues of prevention in U.S. youth.

Chafetz, M. E., Blane, H. T., & Hill, M. J. (Eds.). (1970). Frontiers of alcoholism. New York: Science House.
Chafetz, Blane, and Hill wrote a pioneering work in the field of alcohol abuse treatment. Although somewhat dated now, it is still a good resource for the treatment of the specific substance abuse problem of alcoholism.

Cohen, S. (1981). The substance abuse problems. New York: Haworth Press.
Compared to other books, Cohen's includes more information detailing the psychological aspects and physiological effects of drug abuse. Earlier versions of most of the chapters in this book were published in the Vista Hill Foundation's Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Newsletter, Vols. 1-8, 1972-1979.

Donovan, D. M., & Marlatt, G. A. (Eds.). (1988). Assessment of addictive behaviors. New York: Guilford.
Donovan and Marlatt's book breaks new ground with a biopsychosocial model. It includes a scholarly review and useful tools in assessing clients who are substance abusers. It is a primary resource in the diagnosis of substance abuse and other addictive behaviors.

Einstein, S. (1975). Beyond drugs. New York: Pergamon.
Einstein's book is one of the earliest modern approaches to dealing with the substance abuse problems surfacing in the 1970s. It also includes information on drugs of abuse, patterns of drug abuse, and treatment modalities. As with all early texts, treatment material is somewhat dated.

Kaufman, E., & Kaufman, P. (Eds.). (1979). Family therapy of drug and alcohol abuse. New York: Gardner Press.
Articles in this book stress the importance of family issues in the treatment of substance abuse. It supplies information on substance abuse, its treatment, and the integration of family psychotherapy into the treatment process.

Key Current Works

Alcoholism

Collins, R. L., Leonard, K. E., & Searles, J. S. (Eds.). (1990). Alcohol and the family: Research and clinical perspectives. New York: Guilford.
A primer for the treatment of alcoholism through family therapy. This collection of articles could serve as a primary treatment selection resource for substance abuse counselors and family therapists.

Hester, R. K., & Miller, W. R. (Eds.). (1989). Handbook of alcoholism treatment approaches: Effective alternatives. New York: Pergamon.
This handbook is a reference to various approaches to the treatment of alcoholism. Treatments described run the gamut from 12-step programs to individual and family therapy.

McCrady, B. S., & Epstein, E. E. (Eds.). (1999). Addictions: A comprehensive guidebook. London: Oxford University Press.
This comprehensive guidebook has seven sections, covering epidemiology, specific drugs of abuse, assessment and treatment planning, treatment, practice issues (such as legal concerns), specific populations, prevention, and policy.

Substance Abuse

Berg, I. K., & Reuss, N. H. (1997). Solutions step-by-step: A substance abuse treatment manual. New York: Norton.
This new insight into substance abuse treatment is written by one of the big names in the field of brief therapy (Insoo Kim Berg). It applies a solution-focused model to the treatment of substance abuse.

Carroll, C. (1999). Drugs in modern society (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
This book is comprised of a researched analysis of drug classifications. The volume highlights education as the optimal method for preventing and solving drug problems.

Coombs, R., & Zidonis, D. (1995). Handbook on drug abuse prevention. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
The handbook is a compilation of chapters by well-known authors in the drug prevention and treatment field. It discusses proven and effective techniques, critiques ineffective techniques, and offers options for battling this individual and societal problem.

Doweiko, H. E. (1999). Concepts of chemical dependency (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
This book contains recent findings in neurology and neuropsychology on chemical dependency. It provides thorough coverage of the chemicals most abused. In addition, methods of assessment, various interventions, and treatments are addressed.

Fishben, D., & Pease, S. (1995). Dynamics of drug abuse. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
This book addresses the psychology of addiction, treatment options, and pharmacology. The role that drug abuse plays in the criminal justice system, law enforcement, and social policy are also examined.

Laban, R. J. (1997). Chemical dependency treatment planning handbook. New York: Charles C. Thomas.
This is a handbook for use by client and counselor for the collaborative development of a treatment plan. The handbook allows the therapist to focus on the needs and desires of the client and still ensures the creation of a goal-directed plan for therapy.

Levinthal, C. (1999). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
This book covers legal and illegal drugs. Levinthal discusses the physical, psychological, and sociological effects of drug use. The book provides therapists the needed tools to understand their client's experience and environment.

Miller, W. R. (1991). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people to change addictive behavior. New York: Guilford.
Miller's manual is considered to be an important work because it focuses on the motivational aspects of change. In the background is the work of Norcross, Prochaska, and DiClemente suggesting that treatment should be based on the client's level of problem awareness. The book also includes other information about developing an appropriate therapeutic stance in treating compulsive behaviors and substance abuse problems.

TOP