R. Carson-DeWitt – Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco. Learning About Addictive Behavior

Автор: R. Carson-DeWitt
Название книги: Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco. Addictive Behavior
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Социология
Страницы: 290+275+314
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

In 1995 Macmillan Reference USA published the outstanding Encyclopedia
of Drugs and Alcohol, edited by Jerome Jaffe. An extensively revised
second edition, entitled Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive
Behavior, was published in 2001. Now Macmillan Reference USA is
drawing from the fine work done for these prior encyclopedias to publish
Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco: Learning About Addictive Behavior, a
three-volume set targeted towards general and younger readers.
Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco have myriad ill effects on the lives of
children and teenagers. Babies are born addicted to crack or harmed
by exposure to alcohol while in the womb. Children live in poverty
and chaos, at high risk of neglect, abuse, and homelessness because
of their parents’ drug and/or alcohol problems. Increased school
dropout rates, a high risk of psychiatric problems, and a greater chance
of severe injury or death due to violence, motor vehicle accidents, and
self-injury endanger the worlds of children and teens raised amid substance
abuse. Furthermore, children from substance-abusing homes
are more likely to turn to smoking, drugs, or alcohol. Then comes
the convergence of the genetic propensity for substance abuse, the
availability of alcohol and drugs, and peer pressure, all factors that
increase a child’s risk of engaging in substance abuse or addictive
behaviors.
Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco: Learning About Addictive Behavior was
the brainchild of Hélène Potter, director of new product development
at Macmillan Reference USA. Aware that initiating substance
use prior to the age of fifteen carries a greater risk of severe problems,
and aware that prevention must begin with thorough education,
Ms. Potter conceived of and pushed through this valuable project.
Designed to engage, interest, and educate children and teens, this
work provides information on specific drugs (such as nicotine, alcohol,
marijuana, and ecstasy), risk and protective factors for addiction,
diagnosis and treatment of addictions, medical and legal consequences
of both casual use and addiction, costs to families and society, drug production and trafficking, policy issues, and other compulsive disorders
(including gambling, cutting, and eating disorders).
Although the Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior
was used as a structural basis for this present work, the entire table
of contents was revised to focus the new work on the needs and interests
of young students. An impressive cadre of experts and academics
was commissioned to review, revise, rewrite, and refocus every
article from the original collection, or to produce new articles pertinent
to the project’s goals and relevant to children and teenagers.
New ancillaries provide additional resources that will be particularly
helpful to children and teenagers researching topics for school or for
their own personal use.
The result is Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco: Learning About Addictive
Behavior, a collection of over 190 alphabetically arranged articles intended
to reach out to an audience of children and teenagers with information
that can help them understand issues surrounding addictive
behavior on both an academic and a personal level. The thoughtful,
visually interesting design of the text includes call-out definitions in
the margins of articles (so that young students do not have to flip to
a separate glossary, although that is provided as well); lively marginalia
that highlights interesting facts or makes reading suggestions
for fiction that deals with topically similar issues; and more than 200
full-color illustrations that help young readers to organize and to
compare and contrast information. Articles are followed by crossreferences.
Appendices include a wide-ranging list of organizations
(including their addresses, phone numbers, and web sites) from which
readers can seek more information or obtain contacts for personal
help; a complete glossary of terms; and an annotated bibliography
that will point students toward further research, assist teachers with
class preparation, and guide individuals who are struggling with the
effects of addiction in their personal lives.
Many fine people deserve considerable thanks for contributing to
the birth of this new work, beginning with Hélène Potter, whose vision
and guidance were essential throughout the production process.
Editor Oona Schmid slaved over every aspect of the project and supported
everyone else’s work with competence and good humor. Jan
Gottschalk consulted on the project, sharing her considerable experience
with middle-school students, and providing excellent input regarding
relevancy of material, fit with middle-school curriculum, and
appropriateness for middle-school readers. Copyeditor Jessica Hornik
Evans put in countless hours to make entries suitable in length, scope,
and reading level for middle-school students. Amy Buttery worked to
ensure that data presented were up-to-date and pertinent to young teenagers. And once again, my husband Toby, and our children Anna,
Emma, Isabelle, and Sophie, graciously tolerated the presence of a
fifth child in the guise of an encyclopedia in our home.
In closing, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of clinicians
who are working on the front line to treat families grappling with addiction
in their lives; academics who teach about substance abuse and
its effects on individuals, society, and the international community;
researchers who are studying issues that may lead to better ways to
diagnose, treat, and prevent addiction; policymakers who struggle to
find ways to protect society from the crime and violence associated
with addictions; and the many individuals who awaken each day to
face the effects of addiction wreaking havoc on their lives and to try
once again to find their way free of addiction’s stranglehold.
Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, M.D.