PREFACE<br >The media reminds us daily of the physical and emotional problems of<br >addiction of many kinds. Clinical studies and polls document the large<br >number of alcoholics and drug addicts in the United States. But in<br >addition to the addicts themselves， many other people are affected by<br >addiction: On the average， each addict adversely affects four to six<br >other people.<br > Alcohol and drug addiction are associated with multiple medical，<br >psychological， family， social， legal， financial， and spiritual problems.<br >Addicted individuals are more likely to need medical care， enter the<br >criminal justice system， or seek help for personal or family related<br >problems caused or exacerbated by their addiction.<br > All of the helping professions encounter alcoholics and drug addicts，<br >regardless of the initial presenting problems of the client. Professionals<br >may function in a variety of roles to help addicts or their families，<br >including identifying and assessing alcohol- and drug-related prob-<br >lems; informing patients and families about addiction and recovery<br >issues; referring patients and families to appropriate professional or<br >self-help programs; providing direct treatment; developing clinical and<br >educational programs specific to the needs of addicts and their families;<br >providing support and collaborating with other caregivers; and serving<br >as advocates for clients.<br > This book is a practical guide for doctors， nurses， psychologists，<br >social workers， family therapists， counselors， probation and parole<br >officers， ministers， and other health care or social service professionals<br >who work with addicted individuals and/or their families. The major<br >issues relevant to addiction and recovery are reviewed from the per-<br >spectives of the addict， the addict s family， and the professional. The<br >