Understanding Substance Use

Elaine Arnull‘s research has attracted international attention and exerted an influence on policy and practice. She is interested in finding innovative solutions to research, social policy and educational problems. Elaine was as a Probation Officer and has worked in the third and policy sectors. She is an experienced educator and has developed and taught social work, criminal justice, criminology, health and research methods programmes. She is the author of ‘Social Work in the Youth Justice System: a multidisciplinary perspective’ (2013) with Darrell Fox and numerous journal and research publications. Elaine has worked with substance users and their families, developed and campaigned on substance use policy and researched substance use across the spectrum of statutory, criminal justice and voluntary and not for profit sectors.

• Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter 2 – The social context of substance misuse Chapter 3 – Social policy: drugs and alcohol Chapter 4 – Why do people think substance use is a problem? Chapter 5 – Values Chapter 6 – Approaches to substance use Chapter 7 – Concluding chapter

I found this text to be informative, clearly grounded within context and specifically useful in relating practice based issues to political agendas. The author facilitated both engagement with an easy writing style and enthusiasm for this topic. - Mick Wilkinson, Nottingham Trent UniversityThe book makes a major contribution to the understanding substance use, drawing on relevant and recent policy. It draws on practice and engages the reader in current debates in the area. The book provides theoretical underpinnings that are influential in practice. As key aspect of social work practice, substance misuse is relevant for practitioners. A much needed book for students, practitioners and policy-makers. - Bridget Ng'andu, Ruskin CollegeThe book was very interesting and useful for teaching and for both my own update on substance misuse. I really liked the fact that a couple of chapters have been written to provide a thorough policy and service overview tracking significant changes in rapidly evolving services and practice approaches, in addition to political support for them. The social and legal context is typical of the book, in that is it well written and appealing to the reader, for example quoting the band' The Streets' as an example of the irony of it all. It's good that key topics like normalisation and decriminalisation are covered, and later prisoners are discussed along with some exercises and discussion about motivation interviewing. - Lee Quinney, University of Wolverhampton