Trends in Substance Abuse Research

Substance abuse is one of society's most serious problems. Drugs seem to be readily available even in elementary schools, which attests to the success of the drug purveyors and the failure of law enforcement officials, education administrators and parents. As an example, in the U.S. in 2003, there were nearly 1.7 million admissions to publicly funded substance abuse treatment programs. Most admissions (23.2 percent) were for alcohol treatment. Marijuana accounted for the largest percentage of illicit drug admissions (15.4 percent), followed by heroin (14.4 percent). This book presents new and important research dealing with treatments and treatment programs aimed at alleviating the misery and loses to society of this vicious behavioural disorder.