Adolescent Addiction: Epidemiology, Assessment, and Treatment

by Cecilia A. Essau (Editor), Paul Delfabbro (Editor)

Adolescent Epidemiology, Assessment, and Treatment presents a comprehensive review of information on adolescent addiction, including prevalence and co-morbidity rates, risk factors to addiction, and prevention and treatment strategies. Unlike other books that may focus on one specific addiction, this book covers a wide range of addictions in adolescents, including alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, eating, gambling, internet and video games, and sex addiction. Organized into three sections, the book begins with the classification and assessment of adolescent addiction. Section two has one chapter each on the aforementioned addictions, discussing for each the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, co-morbidity, course and outcome, and prevention and intervention. Section three discusses the assessment and treatment of co-morbid conditions in greater detail as well as the social and political implications of adolescent addictions. Intended to be of practical use to clinicians treating adolescent addiction, the book contains a wealth of information that will be of use to the researcher as well. Contributors to the book represent the US, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. About the A. Essau is professor of developmental psychopathology at Roehampton University in London, UK. Specializing in child and adolescent psychopathology, she has been an author or editor of 12 previous books in child psychopathology and is author of over 100 research articles and book chapters in this area.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Susan Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate to all of it having been there myself. As a student and professional now studying these subjects theoretically, this book is astounding. It reaches far beyond what one considers regarding social, environmental, familial abuse, rather, the brain and how different levels of dopamine and neurotransmitters play integral roles and how we become addicted. Mind-blowing studies conducted globally ranging from drugs, alcohol and nicotine and how simple things like nicotine easily becomes a gateway drug by opening up the synapses in the brain making them ore susceptible to accept drugs like cocaine. This book reaches far beyond everyday psychological and behavioral reasons for addiction, it focuses on the scientific implications, some that we may have no control over. If you are studying substance abuse, know someone who is struggling with this or work in these fields, read this.