Adolescent Substance Abuse: Evidence-Based Approaches to Prevention and Treatment

The second edition of this book incorporates the latest theory, research, and best practices for understanding, treating, and preventing substance abuse among adolescents.  It updates the progress made in treatments for and prevention of the misuse of substances and adds new specific chapters on prescriptions, opiates, and methamphetamine abuse. The book discusses the effects of commonly abused substances, from tobacco and alcohol to stimulants and opioids, on the human brain and the various psychosocial routes to their misuse by adolescents. Chapters provide evidence-based guidelines for assessing adolescent treatment needs and review psychological, pharmacological, family, and self-help interventions. The book offers new paths in diverse directions, analyzes the core components of substance use prevention, critiques emerging school-based interventions, and introduces a nuanced reconceptualization of recovery.

Topics featured in the book include:

• The effect of family and caregiver situations on adolescent substance abuse.
  
• A biological/genetic perspective on adolescent substance abuse.
  
• School-based preventions and the evolution of evidence-based strategies.
  
• The role of adolescent self-help in substance abuse interventions.
  
• Community-based interventions to reduce alcohol use and misuse.
  

Adolescent Substance Abuse, Second Edition, is a must-have reference for researchers, clinicians/practitioners, and graduate students in the fields of child and school psychology, social work, public health, developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, and various interrelated mental health and social policy arenas.

Carl G. Leukefeld is a professor and chair of the Department of Behavioral Science and founding director of the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research at the University of Kentucky. He is also the Bell Alcohol and Addictions Endowed Chair. He came to the University of Kentucky in 1990 to establish the Center on Drug and Alcohol Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), where he filled administrative and research positions. He was also the chief health services officer of the United States Public Health Service. Dr. Leukefeld has published articles, chapters, books, and monographs. He has taught undergraduate, graduate, and medical students.

Thomas P. Gullotta (Tom) retired as the Chief Executive Officer of Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut in 2015 and as a member of the Psychology and Education Departments at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2014. His scholarship encompasses the co-authorship of two college textbooks, the founding editorship of The Journal of Primary Prevention (Kluwer/Academic 1980 - 2000), co-editor, Advances in Adolescent Development: An Annual Book Series (Sage 1985 - 2000), editor, Prevention in Practice Library: A Monograph Series (Plenum, 1996 - 2001), and senior editor, Issues in Children's' and Families' Lives: A Book Series (Springer 1990 - present). In addition to authoring nearly 100 chapters, papers or reviews, he has co-edited or authored over thirty volumes devoted to illness prevention / promotion of health for the treatment of children, adolescents, and families. Tom was the senior editor for the first edition of the Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion (Kluwer / Academic, 2003) and returned to that same role for the four volume second edition of that reference work published in late 2014. Currently, he is the senior advisor to Serve Here CT. and the Chairman of the Town Council in his home town of Glastonbury, CT.