Gender and Addictions

A welcome contribution to the insufficiently addressed issue of gender-based variations in the treatment of substance abuse and process addictions, Straussner and Zelvin's volume addresses an outstanding range of related topics including parenting, AIDS, the high-achieving patient, sexism in AA, gambling, eating disorders, and concurrent disorders (depression in women, attention-deficit in men). The book provides theoretical grounding as well as valuable applications germane to treatment that transcend the particulars of gender. It combines sensitive treatment of critical subjects with real clinical utility. -- Ronna H. Weiss, Ph.D. This is a timely, outstanding, beautifully organized collection of essays by highly knowledgeable and experienced clinicians on the interrelationship and impact of gender identity and sexuality on substance abuse. The essays on women poignantly emphasize the importance of the relational model in understanding the nature o female addictions and the process of treatment. The section on men provides groundbreaking insight into the connection between issues of dependency, control, and power and the dynamics of substance abuse. Theoretically sophisticated and yet practical in its clinical wisdom, Gender and Addictions is strongly recommended for practitioners at all levels of experience. -- Jeffrey Seinfeld, Ph.D.