Social Work with Substance Users

This engaging and comprehensive book explores social work with problematic substance use. Anna Nelson offers social workers new insight on the subject, helping students to understand the issue as it affects service users across a range of social work practice settings. Written from both an anti-discriminatory and evidence-based perspective the text highlights successful responses to the issues surrounding problematic substance use, so that students and social workers can achieve best practice.

The book provides a detailed understanding of:

• Historical and current policy relating to prohibition, drug use and problematic substance use
• A range of substances and their potential effects on service users
• Key models of practice including screening and assessment, brief intervention, motivation approaches and relapse prevention
• The particular issues and special needs of specific service user groups who may be experiencing problematic substance use

Considering the effects of problematic substance use across a wide range of service-user groups, the book takes a reflective approach to this widely misunderstood area. Each chapter includes reflective exercises and examples of further reading challenging students to critically reflect on their practice, and increase their awareness in the area.

Social Work Practice with Substance Users will be essential reading for all social work students, particularly those taking courses in problematic substance use and addiction. It will also be useful for qualified social workers and for students taking related courses across the health and social care field.

Anna Nelson is the programme Manager at Matua Raki, the National Addiction Workforce Development Centre in New Zealand and was formerly Senior Lecturer in Social Work at London South Bank University.