Current Issues in Alcohol/Drug Studies

This provocative and controversial book challenges a number of widely held ideas in the alcohol/drug field by critically evaluating the bases of these ideas.The field of alcohol/drug studies is fraught with conflict and controversy, and each generation of researchers and practitioners seems to have its own special areas of conflict.In this new volume, experts focus on a number of important issues of current interest and controversy.Is alcoholism a “disease” or is it not? Should federal bans on drugs like heroin and cocaine be removed and will that solve, modify, or exacerbate the problem?Can the risk for alcoholism really be predicted?Professionals from a very wide variety of disciplines--medicine and biochemistry, psychiatry and psychology, philosophy, anthropology, law, social work, and journalism--present their very differing points of view on the perception of alcoholism as a disease and on public policy issues like proposed legislative controls over alcoholic beverages.Current Issues in Alcohol/Drug Studies touches upon a number of questions that will be of interest both to people in alcohol/drug research and in alcohol/drug treatment and prevention. Because it will undoubtedly stimulate further investigation and debate, researchers and policymakers will also find it useful.