Author Biography

Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner, DSW, LCSW, is Professor and Chair of the Practice Area at the Silver School of Social Work, New York University, where she is Director of the Post-Master's Certificate Program in Clinical Approaches to Addictions. In 2013, Dr. Straussner was awarded the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, the highest level of Fulbright awards given to a U.S. academic. Previously, she was a Lady Davis Fellow at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and was inducted as a Distinguished Scholar into the Social Work Academy of The National Academies of Practice. Dr. Straussner is the author or editor of numerous articles and books, including Ethnocultural Factors in Substance Abuse Treatment, and is the founding editor of the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. She serves as a consultant to hospitals, agencies, and other organizations in New York; lectures on a variety of topics throughout the United States and abroad; and has a private therapeutic and supervisory practice in New York City.

Table of Contents

I. An Introduction to Clinical Practice with Clients with Substance Use Disorders
1. Assessment and Treatment of Clients with Substance Use Disorders: An Overview, Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner
2. Neurobiology of Substance Use Disorders and Implications for Treatment, Audrey Begun and Suzanne Brown
II. Assessment and Intervention with Individuals Dependent on Different Substances
3. Assessment and Treatment of Individuals Dependent on Alcohol and Other Central Nervous System Depressants, Philip O'Dwyer
4. Assessment and Treatment of Individuals Dependent on Opioids, Ellen Grace Friedman
5. Assessment and Treatment of Individuals Dependent on Stimulants, Armin R. Baier, Edgar E. Coons, and David M. Ockert
III. Varying Perspectives on Intervention with Clients with Substance Use Disorders
6. Motivating Clients with Substance Use Disorders through the Helping Process, Meredith Hanson and Nabila El-Bassel
7. The Clinical Practice of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy, Belinda Seiger
8. Intersection between Trauma and Substance Misuse: Implications for Trauma-Informed Care, Shelly A. Wiechelt
9. Working with Mandated Clients with Substance Use Disorders: A Solution-Focused Approach, Kathryn C. Shafer and Sara A. Smock Jordan
10. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for People with Addictions, Bruce S. Liese
11. Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Treating Clients with Substance Use Disorders, Judy Fenster and Leslie J. Temme
12. 12-Step Programs as a Treatment Modality, Christine Huff Fewell and Betsy Robin Spiegel
IV. Assessment and Intervention with Families
13. Family Treatment of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders, Catherine M. Lemieux
14. Treating the Partners of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders, Elizabeth Zelvin
15. Dynamics and Treatment Issues with Children of Individuals with Substance Use Disorders, Roberta Markowitz
V. Special Issues and Special Populations
16. Assessment and Treatment of Clients with Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders, Shelley Scheffler
17. Assessment and Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders, Audrey Freshman
18. Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults with Substance Use Disorders, Kathleen J. Farkas
19. Assessment and Treatment of Women with Substance Use Disorders, Patricia A. Pape and Stephanie Elias Sarabia
20. Assessment and Treatment of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients with Substance Use Disorders, Evan Senreich and Elena Vairo
21. Assessment and Treatment of Drug-Using Individuals with HIV/AIDS, Larry M. Gant
22. Assessment and Treatment of Co-Existing Substance Use Disorder and Process Addictions: Eating Disorders, Pathological Gambling, and Sexual Addiction, Nicole Zmuda
VI. Looking toward the Future
23. Practice and Policy Issues: The Changing Landscape, Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner

Review

Much has changed in the addictions treatment field in recent years, and Straussner's third edition superbly reflects these changes. The book includes revised terminology consistent with DSM-5, up-to-date statistics, and new chapter topics that help make this one of the most comprehensive books available. I highly recommend this text to faculty members teaching courses in substance abuse treatment. It is sure to enhance the practices of beginning and experienced clinicians alike.--Katherine van Wormer, MSSW, PhD, Department of Social Work, University of Northern Iowa

Practitioners, educators, and students will find this book to be exceptionally helpful, whether or not substance use disorders are their primary practice area. Straussner has brought together national experts who are at the forefront of this increasingly complex field. New chapter topics include the neurobiology of addiction, trauma-informed care, alternative medicine approaches, and more. Clinical vignettes are included in each chapter. This is a state-of-the-art resource.--Melinda Hohman, PhD, School of Social Work, San Diego State University

A magnificent book. Interweaving empirical information and practical 'how-tos' (where the rubber meets the road), this is the perfect text or desk reference for substance abuse practitioners and nonspecialists alike. The third edition incorporates current definitions, trends in substance use, and intervention directions. It provides a foundation for clinical practice that is second to none.--Lori K. Holleran Steiker, PhD, ACSW, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin

Straussner has assembled an impressive lineup of experts to cover some of the most crucial issues in treatment of substance use disorders. This is a valuable resource for clinicians in training or practice, particularly since the content has a strong applied focus. The diversity of viewpoints makes the book an interesting read. It will certainly be relevant for many years.--Brian Perron, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan

Straussner captures the most recent developments in the rapidly changing field of addictions, including the implications of DSM-5, evolving evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care, and the neurobiology of addictions. The book's focus on special populations and co-occurring disorders is timely as the field moves toward integrated care. I highly recommend this text for use in the classroom. Students in our addiction counselor training program have found it extremely useful for their work in the field.--Darcy Clay Siebert, PhD, School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

The book zeros in on the drugs most often abused in recent years and highlights specific intervention methods. Complicated concepts, historical trends, and current theories are explained clearly and concisely. No extraneous information is included--if it's in the book, it's important for the reader to know. I especially appreciate the third edition's expanded focus on family dynamics and interventions. Students in master's and postmaster's programs will find this book readable, informative, and motivating, as will experienced clinicians who want to update their skills.--Maryann Amodeo, PhD, LICSW, Co-Director, Center for Addictions Research and Services, Boston University School of Social Work


-A richly designed text and resource tool for graduate counseling students as well as the novice and seasoned professional substance abuse therapist. This book takes a multidimensional approach to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for today's substance abusing clients with specific emphasis on diverse populations....Dr. Straussner pools experts in the addiction field who offer an easy-to-read clinical guide of systematic strategies and methods for intervening in a world rough with the negative impact of alcohol and other drugs on individuals, families, communities, and the criminal justice system....This book will prove to be an asset to any graduate counseling curriculum, as well as an excellent reference guide for substance abuse counselors and other mental health practitioners. (on the second edition)--Family Journal, 1/1/2009ƒƒStraussner has created an excellent practical reference….The inclusion of material on practice in general and substance abuse settings makes the book applicable to many ers….Each chapter presents a clear conceptual framework that informs practice, and most chapters include case examples. The book includes enough information on different types of substance abuse to communicate how treatment must be adapted for different drugs of abuse. (on the first edition)--Social Work, 9/1/1994ƒƒA comprehensive, readable account of the issues encountered by professionals working with people who abuse substances....this is a welcome core text, relevant to practitioners requiring an introductory knowledge of the issues but also as a resource for experienced workers who specialize in this area of practice. (on the second edition)--British Journal of Social Work, 9/1/2005ƒƒThe concise and straightforward manner in which information is presented allows the editor to make the book simple and readable while covering an extensive range of theoretical material. The book can be read in its entirety by students and newcomers to the field or selectively by those interested in particular chapters....I have no hesitation recommending this book to psychiatrists, mental health workers, addiction clinicians, and especially psychiatry residents and medical students as an informative, comprehensive, and clearly and concisely written textbook. (on the second edition)--Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 5/1/2006

Long Description

A leading professional resource and course text, this book provides practical guidance for treating clients with substance use disorders in a variety of contexts. Expert contributors present major assessment and treatment approaches together with detailed recommendations for intervening with particular substances. Clinical techniques are clearly explained and illustrated with helpful case examples. Important topics include harm reduction; strategies for working with family members; and ways to meet the needs of specific populations, including women, adolescents, older adults, LGBT clients, and those with frequently encountered co-occurring problems. New to This Edition *Revised to reflect current research and clinical advances; updated for DSM-5. *Chapters on trauma-informed care, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and complementary/alternative approaches. *Chapters on neurobiology and behavioral addictions. *Significantly revised chapters on family treatment and dual disorders.

Review Quote

"The concise and straightforward manner in which information is presented allows the editor to make the book simple and readable while covering an extensive range of theoretical material. The book can be read in its entirety by students and newcomers to the field or selectively by those interested in particular chapters....I have no hesitation recommending this book to psychiatrists, mental health workers, addiction clinicians, and especially psychiatry residents and medical students as an informative, comprehensive, and clearly and concisely written textbook." (on the second edition)

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