Dean R. Gerstein – författare

Alcohol is a killer--1 of every 13 deaths in the United States is alcohol-related. In addition, 5 percent of the population consumes 50 percent of the alcohol. The authors take a close look at the problem in a "classy little study," as The Washington Post called this book. The Library Journal states, "...[T]his is one book that addresses solutions...And it's enjoyably readable...This is an excellent review for anyone in the alcoholism prevention business, and good background reading for the interested layperson." The Washington Post agrees: the book "...likely will wind up on the bookshelves of counselors, politicians, judges, medical professionals, and law enforcement officials throughout the country."

The large federal role in the drug treatment system was substantially reduced in the early 1980s, undercutting its ability to help communities respond to new challenges such as the crack-cocaine epidemic and the growing violence in drug markets. How can drug treatment dollars be spent most equitably with the highest likelihood of beneficial results? With this basic question as its focus, Treating Drug Problems, Volume 1 provides specific recommendations on how to organize and fund the drug treatment system. Detailed attention is given to both public and private sources and their programs. The book presents the latest data and analysis on these topics and more: * How specific approaches to drug treatment fit into drug policy, including the different perspectives of the medical and criminal-justice communities. * What is known about drug consumption behavior and what treatment approaches have proven most cost-beneficial. * What areas need further research--including specifications for increased study of treatment effectiveness and drug use by adolescents and young women.

As the nation's drug crisis has deepened, public and private agencies have invested huge sums of money in prevention efforts. Are the resulting programs effective? What do we need to know to make them more effective? This book provides a comprehensive overview on what we know about drug abuse prevention and its effectiveness, including * Results of a wide range of antidrug efforts. * The role and effectiveness of mass media in preventing drug use. * A profile of the drug problem, including a look at drug use by different population groups. * A review of three major schools of prevention theory--risk factor reduction, developmental change, and social influence. * An examination of promising prevention techniques from other areas of health and human services. This volume offers provocative findings on the connection between low self-esteem and drug use, the role of schools, the reality of changing drug use in the population, and more. Preventing Drug Abuse will be indispensable to anyone involved in the search for solutions, including policymakers, antidrug program developers and administrators, and researchers.