Mastering Addiction Assessment and Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians

Substance use disorders pose significant challenges to practitioners, characterized by ambivalence, poor treatment adherence, and complex comorbidities. Despite the alarming fact that only 10% of patients with addiction receive specialized treatment, clinicians across medical and surgical specialties must develop the skills to confidently assess and treat this patient population.

The Pocket Guide to Addiction Assessment and Treatment is a valuable resource designed to aid clinicians, regardless of their addiction training, in providing high-quality care to patients struggling with addiction. This practical guide is divided into three sections:

Fundamentals of Addiction

• The neurobiology of addiction

Substances and Behaviors

• Recognizing and treating addiction to substances such as alcohol, anabolic-androgenic steroids, benzodiazepines, cannabis, opioids, stimulants, and tobacco
• Understanding hallucinogens, inhalants, and caffeine addiction
• Addressing special issues with psychiatric and medical comorbidities, as well as specific populations
• Behavioral addictions, with a focus on gambling disorder

Treatment Options

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• 12-step programs
• Nutrition and exercise in addiction treatment
• Spirituality, mindfulness, and meditation in recovery
• Examples of how each treatment approach can be applied to patients facing addiction

This accessible guide serves as a go-to resource for:

• General psychiatrists
• Internists
• Family practitioners
• Pediatricians
• Emergency medicine physicians
• Psychiatric nurses
• Residents
• Medical students
• Other practitioners involved in the addiction treatment field

All diagnostic discussions in this guide are based on the DSM-5, ensuring that readers receive the most relevant and up-to-date guidance on addiction assessment and treatment.

With its comprehensive and easily referenced format, the Pocket Guide to Addiction Assessment and Treatment empowers clinicians to provide high-quality care to patients struggling with addiction, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and enhancing patient well-being.