Substance Use and Abuse: Cultural and Historical Perspectives - Softcover

Durrant, Russil; Thakker, Jo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076192342X ISBN 13: 9780761923428

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2003

Synopsis

"This book takes an integrative approach to the understanding of drug use and its relationship to social-cultural factors. It is lucidly and powerfully argued and constitutes a significant achievement. The authors sensibly argue that in order to fully understand and explain drug use and abuse it is necessary to take into account different levels of analysis, reflecting distinct domains of human functioning; the biological, psychosocial, and cultural-historical....Overall, this book represents an exceptional achievement and should be of interest to drug clinicians and researcher as well as social scientists and students."--Professor Tony Ward, University of Melbourne Substance use and abuse are two of the most frequent psychological problems clinicians encounter. Mainstream approaches focus on the biological and psychological factors supporting drug abuse. But to fully comprehend the issue, clinicians need to consider the social, historical, and cultural factors responsible for drug-related problems. Substance Use and Abuse: Cultural and Historical Perspectives provides an inclusive explanation of the human desire to take drugs. Using a multidisciplinary framework, authors Russil Durrant and Jo Thakker explore the cultural and historical variables that contribute to drug use. Integrating biological, psychosocial, and cultural-historical perspectives, this innovative and accessible volume addresses the fundamental question of why drug use is such a ubiquitous feature of human society. Addressing issues important to prevention, treatment, and public policy, the authors includeA comprehensive, historical survey of drug useAn exploration of the evolutionary basis of drug-taking behaviorHistorically and culturally based explanations of drug use and abuseInclusive approaches that complement mainstream biopsychosocial perspectives Designed for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students in

About this title

About the Author:

Russil Durrant received his Ph.D. from the University of Canterbury, where he also ompleted a Post Doctoral Fellowship. He then worked at the Centre for Behavioral Research in Cancer at the Cancer Control Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. His research involves the design and evaluation of mass media tobacco prevention programs, and his other research interests include evolutionary psychology, cultural psychology, and the social history of drug use.  He currently teaches at Griffith University - Gold Coast Campus in Queensland, Australia.

About this edition

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 076192342X
• ISBN 13: 9780761923428
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320