Highly Commended, BMA Medical Book Awards 2014

    This highly practical manual presents an ideal introduction to adolescent substance use. It offers invaluable guidance for all professionals involved with adolescents including social workers, health and social care professionals, youth workers, family support workers, teachers, counsellors, mental health teams, A&E staff, police and probation officers. The approach these practitioners take in dealing with the problem has considerable influence over outcomes. It succinctly covers a wealth of information on key matters such as counselling, treatment options, motives for substance abuse, sexual and mental health, policy development, ethical and legal considerations, and the important role of the family. Adolescents and Substance Use provides a user-friendly foundation for effective, evidence-based practice.

    Foreword. Preface. About the authors. Acknowledgements. Introduction. Adolescence: a time of great change. An overview of substances used by adolescents. Why do we worry about teenage substance use? Why do some teenagers abuse substances? Risk and protective factors. Preventing adolescent substance use. What is 'treatment' and who needs it? Harnessing the significant influence of parents. Enhancing motivation for change. Counselling adolescent substance users. Other treatment approaches. Developing substance use policies. Substance use and mental health. Substance use and sexual health. Substance use and cultural issues. Interagency working. Ethical and legal issues. Index.

    Biography

    Philip James, Catriona Kearns, Ann Campbell, Bobby N.P. Smyth