Roger Farmer

Buddhism and Addictions

Buddhist doctrines deal in detail with craving and attachment, how they arise, the forms they take, their results, and also how they can be managed. This and Buddhist emphasis on impermanence makes these doctrines pertinent to theories of the causation and mechanisms of addictions and to possible therapies. Certain Buddhist teachings relevant to addictions are presented within the context of the Four Noble Truths and similarities are drawn to contemporary approaches. As well as being helpful for treating Buddhist clients such a framework may provide a spiritual but non-theistic alternative for those who reject the theism implicit in the twelve-step philosophy. Directions for research include exploring changing ethical behaviour and the use of meditation both as an adjunct to orthodox treatment and as a means of self-change within this framework.

Stress and Working with Drug Misusers

Although it is a common belief that working with drug misusers is relatively stressing, there is very little empirical evidence for or against this contention. As a pilot survey, sixty staff working in 10 inner-city drug de pendency treatment clinics were assessed by questionnaire for burnout levels, work satisfaction, perceived causes of stress, and strategies or situations to prevent or alleviate stress. While scores of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation were expressed in the direction of burnout, self ratings of personal effectiveness remained high and about half were satisfied with their job. Factors relating to high workload, superiors and management were perceived as highly pressuring, but at the other extreme, conflict between work and home demand gave rise to few problems. Relationships with relatives, partners or friends, were rated as most protective against stress. Factors which may contribute to stress are discussed as well as putative strategies to avoid or alleviate it.

Treating Drinkers and Drug Users in the Community. By Tom Waller and Daphne Rumball

Treating Drinkers and Drug Users in the Community . By Tom Waller and Daphne Rumball, Blackwell Science, Malden, MA, 2004, £38.50. Paperback: 480 pp. ISBN-10: 0632035757 This book is grounded in the principle of a unified approach to understanding and helping alcohol and drug takers with problems or dependence. So for instance, combined services for drug and alcohol users are espoused. Tobacco smoking is omitted ‘reluctantly’ except in relation to pregnancy, prevention in young people and physical health because of size constraints to the book, but the authors acknowledge that for a truly combined substance approach it would be more fully covered. With the statement in the foreword ‘The old battles of abstinence-orientated treatments versus maintenance and harm reduction are battles based on ignorance and grounded …

Understanding Drugs and Behaviour. By Andrew Parrott, Alun Morinana, Mark Moss and Andrew Scholey. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, 2004. £21.99. 320pgs. ISBN 047186402.

According to the preface this book aims to present in a reader-friendly way to students of psychology, behavioural sciences, health sciences and nursing as well as undergraduates of physiology and pharmacology, information on the effects of drugs on behaviour, mood, cognition, sensation, awareness, health and well-being. It is generally quite successful in achieving its aim. The remit of the book does need to be …

Drink, Drugs and Dependence — From Science to Clinical Practice.

The plan underpinning this book is unclear — for instance, the intended scope, how advanced the content should be and anticipated readership. On the first page the two editors say, ‘In a novel way, this book integrates biological science, social science and clinical experience’ and the preface mentions ‘using a broad perspective: from the basic brain mechanisms to the physical, psychological, sociological and practical issues’. This integration is partially achieved — in the choice of contributors and within …

Improving the Care of People in Substance Misuse Services: Clinical Audit Project Examples. By K. MacLean Steel and C. Palmer. Gaskell, London. 2000, 42pp., £15.00. ISBN: 1-901-242-46-3.

This Royal College of Psychiatrists publication presents a number of substance misuse service audit projects addressing the following areas: assessment, clinical care, organization/management processes, and user satisfaction and outcomes. After a brief introduction, the project reports are presented using a standard format with a number of possible sub-headings. It has to be said that the …