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Prescription Drug Abuse and Dependence: How Prescription Drug Abuse Contributes to the Drug Abuse Epidemic

NCJ Number
165941
Author(s)
D P Greenfield
Date Published
1995
Length
176 pages
Annotation
Prescription drug abuse is examined with respect to its nature, scope, and extent; practical aspects of assessment and diagnosis; treatment methods; and legal issues and interventions.
Abstract
Individual chapters review the main categories of psychoactive drugs, discuss their pharmacological and behavioral effects on users, and describe a series of types of prescription drug users based on a psychological and motivational perspective. Additional chapters examine the medical and legal aspects of benzodiazepines, discuss the problem of interviewing difficult and uncooperative clients who may have an ulterior motive or hidden agenda for seeking professional help, and present a diagnostic and evaluation approach for assessing clients. Further chapters review diagnostic issues related to the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders (anxiety, panic, and mood disorders) and drug abuse; describe the range of treatment opportunities available to prescription drug abusers and other drug abusers; and discuss the legal responsibilities of health care providers and clients, civil and criminal offenses and remedies, and guidelines for appropriate prescribing practices. The concluding chapter emphasizes that although prescription drug abuse amounts to a relatively small part of contemporary drug abuse, it is statistically and clinically significant. Figures, tables, chapter reference lists, and author and subject indexes