This book spotlights the essential biological and medical knowledge that a therapist or counselor must have in order to work effectively in addiction treatment. The author uses his expertise, developed over 35 years of addiction medicine practice, to give therapists and counselors the information and tools needed to help their clients recover from addiction, a chronic, progressive, and incurable disease. Focuses on the essential biological and medical knowledge that a therapist or counselor should have if he or she desires to work effectively in addiction treatment. Explains addiction's scientific and nonscientific elements in a generally easy-to-read format. ñ Anyone interested in learning about the current state-of-the-art understanding of addiction will find this book helpful.Combines current knowledge in the field of addiction with relevant and insightful clinical observations interwoven with wisdom and humor to offer professionals and educators a comprehensive guide that addresses all of the essential aspects of addiction and its treatment. This book will lead to improved integration of the medical and counseling fields. Written by an addiction medicine specialist with 35 years of experience in the field of addiction treatment. In combining years of study and medical knowledge with direct professional experience, analogies, statistics, and a practical real world approach, the author engages readers to learn about the biological and medical issues of addiction and how this disease impacts the lives of everyone it comes in contact with. ñ Sends a clear and compelling message that addiction is a most human condition and that it is no more appropriate to blame those suffering from it than it is to blame those suffering from asthma, heart, disease, or diabetes, for their afflictions.