Adolescents and Substance Abuse ─ The Handbook for Professionals Working With Young People

With simple language, boxed definitions, summary charts, and bullet points, this introduction and guide will be accessible to youth workers, social workers, counselors, mental and physical healthcare professionals, and probation officers. The information given is applicable to teens with severe or milder problems or experimental use. After an overview of adolescence, the book offers a chapter reviewing various substances used by adolescents, providing info on routes of administration, drug effects, side effects, risks of use, and prevalence. Of special note is the inclusion of information on novel psychoactive substances, such as 'legal highs,' 'bath salts,' and Spice. Later chapters cover dangers and causes of abuse and prevention and treatment approaches, offering ideas for working with parents and developing substance use policies. Separate chapters are devoted to substance use and mental health, sexual health, cultural issues, and ethical issues. Chapters conclude with web resources and further reading. The book is distributed in the US by Martin P. Hill Consulting. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

PHILIP JAMESMSc, BSc (Hons), RPN, Dip Psych Nurs, MAREBTCAITRIONA KEARNSBSc (Hons), MIACP, MWGIIANN CAMPBELLMSc, RGN, Dip Addct St, Dip Syst PsychMember Family Therapy Association of Ireland and the Irish Council forPsychotherapyandBOBBY P SMYTHMRCPsych, MB BCh BAO