Drugs Books

A wonderful book from a great professor. I was a student of Padma Catell's and found her dynamic teaching style, echoed in this book, to be straightforward and digestible. She used this text in our class, and it helped me to breakdown the wealth of the material and learn it with ease. As a result of her text, I am able to assist my clients in their understanding around meds, drugs, alternatives, and addiction. Very helpful book for students and practitioners alike - highly recommended!

Drugs and Clients: What Every Psychotherapist Needs to Know
by: Padma Catell

Issue Year: 2004
Category: Psychology
Publisher: Solarium Press

ISBN: 0929150767

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While most experts in psychopharmacology are psychiatrists, they represent less than ten percent of physicians, so most prescriptions for psychiatric drugs are written by internists, family practitioners, pediatricians, and gynecologists. At the same time, psychologists, social workers, and counselors provide the most psychotherapy, but they cannot prescribe drugs. This book is intended to help these professionals understand the benefits and hazards of medication, so they can better help their patients and consult more effectively with prescribing doctors. The author, a psychologist with a degree in biology, teaches pharmacology to graduate students; furthermore, she writes clearly and succinctly. Her book, while technically fairly sophisticated, serves a larger audience than the title suggests: patients, their families, physicians, and public health workers will benefit from this text, which deals mainly with treatment of conditions like anxiety, insomnia, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) depression, and psychosis, but includes chapters on alcohol, stimulants, and recreational drugs. Catell explains the effects of caffeine, the use of supplements, herbs, and oils, and pain medication. She goes beyond drugs to discuss ECT (electro-convulsive, or "shock" therapy) and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). She includes six appendices on brain function and mechanisms of action of various substances, about which less is known for certain than most laypersons realize. Tables and diagrams summarize and clarify the text. Each topic reviews diagnosis and etiology, including the relative importance of heredity and environment, if known. Catell's references are up to date, but she could have given more critical attention to the infrequent but life-threatening side effects of popular SSRIs, including Prozac and Paxil (although she does mention sexual side effects and the use of Viagra). Managed care and health insurance plans have pushed psychiatrists increasingly toward shorter sessions focused on medication, not psychotherapy, which is assigned increasingly to non-medical (and less expensive) practitioners. Splitting therapy in two parts requires that psychotherapists, who know their clients better than most physicians, also know a significant amount about medication, hence the need for this book. A related controversy is outside the scope of this book: some psychologists want training in pharmacology and, with medical supervision, to write prescriptions for therapy patients. Despite protests from the American Psychiatric Association, two states (New Mexico and Louisiana) have passed legislation allowing this experiment to proceed. Catell's excellent book stands as evidence that psychologists could bring an important perspective to the dispensing of drugs that most physicians lack: mental health expertise. (August)

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Review by: E. James Lieberman

Drugs & Clients: What Every Psychotherapist Needs To Know by Padma Catell (Associate Professor of Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies) is a straightforward reference informing psychotherapists and lay readers alike of the basic facts concerning common psychoactive medications as well as non-prescription psychoactive drugs such as alcohol, antihistamines, nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, marijuana and more. Written in no-nonsense, unbiased terms, it describes the effects of drugs, how they are viewed by the modern American legal system, health risks, results of statistical studies, and more. A superb resource manual for anyone needing to acquaint themselves with the basics of common psychoactive chemicals.

A lucidly written, well-researched, fully updated survey of the field of psychopharmacology. Concise, eminently readable, thoroughly referenced, this gem of a book includes a tour d'horizon of various mental health problems - from sleep disorders to psychotic episodes. Each chapter reviews relevant medications and drugs, their effects, benefits, and dangers, as well as practical advice on how to administer and handle them. The clean and intuitive illustrations and tables enhance this tome's allure....Drugs and Clients is a must reference for anyone who deals with human suffering and the human mind. Sam Vaknin, author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited.

Easy to use and carry with all of the pertinent information needed to Rx antibiotics. Well researched and up to date.

This is an amazingly useful and easy to use book! Unlike most other antibiotic guides this one gives you all the information you need when a patient with an infection is in front of you in the office. Not only the drug of choice, but useful alternative therapies, dosages (adults and children), common adverse effects and other helpful prescribing information. And it's so easy to find the infection you're looking for- since the book is arranged from anatomical top (HEENT)in the front to bottom (GU) in the back. There's a separate section for antimicrobials in addition to the one for the disease syndromes. The book fits perfectly into a lab coat (or shirt) pocket and is up to date and highly accurate. The best antibiotic guide I've seen.

A fellow medical student showed me this pocket book and I am glad I bought it. It is very easy to use and the print is readable. The best part of this book is the list of dosing for Peds. I don't have to look up the amount based on the kg of the child; its right there. Highly recommend for those of us who work or do clinical rotations in the out-patient setting.

This is an amazingly useful and easy to use book! Unlike most other antibiotic guides this one gives you all the information you need when a patient with an infection is in front of you in the office. Not only the drug of choice, but useful alternative therapies, dosages (adults and children), common adverse effects and other helpful prescribing information. And it's so easy to find the infection you're looking for- since the book is arranged from anatomical top (HEENT)in the front to bottom (GU) in the back. There's a separate section for antimicrobials in addition to the one for the disease syndromes. The book fits perfectly into a lab coat (or shirt) pocket and is up to date and highly accurate. The best antibiotic guide I've seen.

I thought this was an excellent source of informaion. I used it for a class and earned an A. Very thorough and easy to understand. Lay terms are frequently used and I found I learned a lot and found it very valuable.

An excellent general overview, covering drug use and regulation, pharmacological basics, in-depth analyses of the legal drugs, tranquilizers and stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and marijuana, and comments on "a rational look at drug use." Well-documented with an abundance of relevant quotes and statistics; a rich set of references follow each chapter.

I bought this book to study for a quiz-out test for my Psych major. I read through three chapters the first time I picked it up. I usually have to force myself to complete an assignment, but with this book I just kept reading with no pushing whatsoever! I highly recommend this book to anyone taking a class in this subject, whether or not it is the required text. It would be a great additional information source. It is helpful if you or someone you know may be going through any type of drug or alcohol treatment--from caffeine to heroin. I also enjoyed the online quizzes you are allowed to access once you have the book. It really enforces what you have learned.

This book is the source for unbiased information on the sociological, psychological, pathological effects of "drugs" - this compendium covers everything from caffeine to antipsychotics to alcohol to psychedelics and everything in between. A review of the history of each drug introduces each chapter. Careful attention is paid to not only the effects of the drugs themselves, but the effect which they have on our laws and the way in which treat addiction.

As a former student of Dr. Ray's I can attest to the thoroughness of this work. It is the one book that doesn't tell you what to think about drugs - it provides you with the data to be informed to make your own decision. In fact the DEA uses this book in training! If you are looking for a comprehensive resource for school, your own interest, or just to be informed to talk to your kids, look no further.

Excellent for beginning CD counselors. Has a vast amount of useful information for the beginning and the seasoned counselor.

This is the best text for a course in Chemical Dependency Counseling that is available. It a great deal of information that a beginning counselor needs to work in the field. It even includes a chapter on how to deal with the reluctant to recover and one on how to servive in a chemical dependency agency, most useful!

This is an essential book for anyone in the chemical dependency field or who is treating individuals with chemical dependency. It is the best one I have read yet.

Covers (exhaustively) the 12 core competencies specified by the ATTC and required for certification by any state. It is excellent.

Falling by Doug Wilhelm

If you would like to read a book that combines friendships, romantic and otherwise, in today's teenage world then I would highly recommend this book. The characters are strong, appealing, and they are dealing with the world around us in an authentic way by using the technology that surrounds us. Although we have every type of communication available to us it does not mean that we know what to say, how to react, and what decision is the correct one. The plot unfolds through the struggle the characters have with finding the right words, whether they should become involved, and the effects those decisions have on others. The theme is not uncommon, but the author's observations in how teenagers interact through computers, text messaging, and cell phones as well as keeping the story seemingly effortlessly fast paced, is truly masterful.
I would recommend Falling and Doug Wilhelm's earlier book The Revealers for every town and school library. They are extraordinary additions to our young adult sections as they touch on difficult subjects with empathy and hope.

Doug Wilhelm's FALLING tells of teen Matt, who was expected to be the star player on his junior high basketball team - and now won't even touch a ball. Nobody knows why - until he meets Katie, becomes close to her, and eventually reveals a secret that will change more than his world.

Falling is a compassionate book. Wilhelm never places blame, but rather presents very real situations and feelings: parents who are doing their best, people who simply get lost, and not because they are "bad." There are friends who change and evolve and who are deeply human, people who have high expectations for themselves -- and turn the hurt inward. This is so true for most of the good folks I know. This compassion is essential because we are flawed, but we need to learn, and forgive -- possibly most importantly -- ourselves.

Falling reminds us we are not alone, and that as adolescents the errors we make can be fatal or life changing. It also presents hope -- through believing in something so wonderfully symbolized (or not) in Katie's rock collection. We all have that story or object or something deep inside of us that keeps us moving forward (or we need it). Wilhelm reminds us of this,without a lecture, but by wrapping us up in the lives of these people, who we grow to love and empathize with.

This is an important book because students can identify with the characters, and see how easy it is to get lost. The very fact that Wilhelm does not place judgement on anyone, including the parents, is so important. There is also Neil, the drug user. Neil has let himself down; we cry for him the most.

How many kids out there are hiding something, and feel that they are alone? Aren't books meant to keep us bonded? Falling is this kind of book. I highly recommend Wilhelm's lastest look at adolescent life.

Matt has a huge secret that causes all kinds of problems in his life.

Once the star basketball player in a small city that lives for sports, he now refuses to go out for the team. Instead, he keeps to himself and creates a barrier between himself and the rest of the world. He avoids going home after school so he won't have to deal with his older brother and his "friends."

Neal used to be the basketball star, but now he spends his days locked in his room doing drugs. Matt aimlessly walks around town after school until his clueless parents come home.

No one asks Matt to explain, until he meets a girl online. Katie goes to his school and has a passion for asking questions. Katie's hit upon something in Matt.

Soon the two of them are hanging out after school. Katie's friends balk at the idea of them as a couple. No one knows the reason behind Matt's changes, so they all assume that he's in trouble. Now Katie's asking questions, and it's only a matter of time until the truth tumbles out.

FALLING asks the question of how far would you go to protect someone you love? There also comes a time when everyone must make the decision at least once in their life: yes or no to drugs? Katie and Matt wrestle realistically with this issue throughout the book.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

THis book is all that I was looking for. The info is sooooo understanding and has enlightened me as to where my Brother is at with his alcoholism and drug use, as well as, his recovery.

It has also helped me as to identify my feelings and emotions while living with his addiction.

I am ordering two more books for my Mom and other Brother today!

This is too good to be true. Even Al Anon doesn't clarify as well as this book. Good luck

Most books I read on drug and alcohol abuse are either too technical or oversimplified (like the reader doesn't have a working brain and has to have everything explained at the fifth grade level). This book is the exception. It's written for adults who are experiencing real life problems and real life situations. I found it the most helpful of the many books i read when I was having problems with my daughter. I followed a lot of what the book said and it was right on.

As the parent of a wonderful adult son who became addicted to a narcotic, I have read countless books and materials on this topic. This is the single most helpful source I have found. The advice is both hard-hitting and compassionate, and the way in which it is presented is very readable and accessible (I read it in two nights in two sittings). If someone you love is addicted to alcohol or a drug, this is the book for you. Don't give up. Read this and get started. Good luck to you and your loved person.

This book helped me when I organized an intervention with the help of a counselor. I read several books at the time and this one was the best. I recommend the book and I wish you well.

This will be so great to use in our clinic. We already use the last edition until it was so beat up! Hurry and send it-

Book is in great condition like the seller descibed. Book is arrived on time. Thanks

An almost perfect book. It lacks a few of the newer drugs, but honestly I don't know how any book could keep up. I like the layout of each drug and especially the part of special dental considerations. I've had the book for a few months and I've only had a couple drugs that were difficult to find due to the generic/brand name discrepencies. It's easy and quick to access.

The one area I would like to see improved is another index categorizing drugs by groups, such as Benzodiazepenes, CCBs, anesthetics, etc. and what general characteristics and precautions each group presents. I think that would make this book perfect in my mind.

This drug reference is layed out in a simple easy to use pattern. Every office should acquire this book. We just check the index, get the page number, flip to the appropiate page and wham! everything we need is right there. I especially like how the dental considerations are listed seperately. And it's a lot easier to manage than the huge PDR. It makes life much easier!

Heard the taped version of GETTING BETTER by
Nan Robertson, an inside look at Alcoholics
Anonymous . . . I've often wondered about this
group, but had seen little ever written about it--in
part because of the anonymity factor.

Somehow, Robertson (a Pulitzer Prize-winning
reporter for THE NEW YORK TIMES) got permission
to write the book . . . in it, she tells the story of how a failed
stockbroker and a surgeon together found a way to stay
sober--one day at a time.

She also describes what happens at the actual meetings . . . and
that is what I perhaps liked best about the book: its
behind-the scenes view of these gatherings . . . the
fact that Robertson actually attended many of these as
a recovering alcoholic made her reporting all the more believable.

I also liked how she summarized the message of message
of AAA into these three key points: Be honest, change
yourself and help others.

GETTING BETTER was made even more enjoyable by Michael
Learned's excellent narration.

This book is well researched (including interviews with the widow of Bill W, co-founder of AA) and well written. It gives an honest history of the origins of AA without the trappings of saintliness often given to Bill Wilson from the works published by the AA general services office and some other sources. For examples, Bill's infidelities, neglecting family responsibilities to help fellow drunks, and "post-sobriety" experiments with LSD and other chemicals are mentioned. The history sections on AA are excellent as a result of this objectivity. The author also gives an excellent account of typical experience in in-patient rehab.

The author's personal story is equally compelling, and touches on issues chemically dependant individuals face, including how alcohol addiction relates to other facets of life, including depression and physical illness.

All in all, one of the better works on AA and the disease of alcoholism. As a well qualified member of AA, I have one message for other AA members concerned with the author "violating" the 11th tradition on anonimity: "get over it!". Bill Wilson was (and is) hardly "anonymous". If his widow didn't have a problem with this work neither should we.

Ms. Robertson's book is a comprehensive review of Alcoholics Anonymous and it's co-founder Bill Wilson. She gives a surprisingly objective history of Bill W.'s life, his joining with Bob Smith, the other co-founder of AA, and AA's evolution into, perhaps, the most sigificant spiritual program of the 20th century. The only negative aspect of the book is Ms. Robertson's compromising of the 12th Tradition of AA which is maintaining personal anonimity in press, radio and films. I strongly urge anyone in recovery from substance dependence as well as mental health professionals to read this book for greater knowledge of the famous founder of AA.

Nan Robertson's book is the most accurate I have ever read concerning Alcoholics Anonymous. She is devoted to AA, but more so to her research and her honest in writing. If I had to read one book concerning AA, this would be the one. Robert F. Hale

I think everyone should read this book especially every teenager. The wrighter of this journal went through just about everything. I could only imagine how it felt. Some of my peers at school read some short segments of Go Ask Alice and they couldn't believe how true and explictedly described it was. I also think this book could wake up some teens in this world and it could let them know that no matter what some of their peers may say drugs are not cool and they can ruin everything you want and everthing you have going for yourself just like it did for the writer of Go Ask Alice.

This book fills a definite need for adolescents. It presents the facts, not fallacy, to all of the questions they have that parents and other caregivers may be too embarrassed to talk about. It is from an extremely reputable source (Columbia University), and is readable and accessible to the average teen. Kudos to the people who put together "The Go Ask Alice Book of Answers".

The review dated May 9, 1999 is not germain to this book, having a similar title to an earlier fictional book simply titled Go Ask Alice.

This book illustrates and discusses issues regarding healthy practices on many levels.

At www.goaskalice.columbia.edu, there is one of the best sources for advice on sex, relationships, and health for people ages 14 and up. This book is the print version.

It has nothing to do with the adolescent potboiler written by Beatrice Sparks; its information on drugs and sex is technical, explicit, and meant to give answers, not scare people. The gamut of advice given runs from flirting to penis size to the effects of various drugs on the body to urinary tract infections, and it's delivered with humor and understanding, without the judgementalism that seems to be the case in many more traditional books.

While I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who hasn't hit their 13th birthday yet, this book is an antidote for prudishness and the information vacuum far too many young people live in, and in a world where basic information on sex and life can often be hard to find or heavily polluted by unnecessary moralism, this book can help ease fears and educate the uneducated in a way that scare stories and sermons can't.

This book is a true gift to anyone wanting to heal not only from addictive patterns, but also on all levels of one's life. With compassion and open honesty, Lee Jampolsky shares many insights along with his own experience on healing from addictions to bring us to a better understanding of our true nature and how forgiveness can heal us at our very core. This is a must read for anyone wishing to live a happier life.

Healing the Addictive Personality is a great book for any one who wants to be happier and healthier. I have met with Lee Jampolsky. He helps me be a better person.

The book does a particularly good job of helping us understand the ways that our own biology as well as our own will help us determine our own peace of mind.

In my quest to have the life I want, I have found this book to be very helpful and I recommend it to everyone.

John Hoffmire

Lee's book is an extremely helpful account of not only what an addictive personality is, but also an honest look at addiction from his own personal experience. This will be helpful to everyone,as we are all addicted to something.I hope that it will be made available to rehabilitation services and recovery centres everywhere.

When we think of the word addictive, we think of drugs, alchohol... In this book the Author discusses addictive personality traits that surface as we go about our day. Many of us don't realize the addictions we carry around with us. This book is amazing! I think that anyone who wants to hold healthy conversations with their loved ones on a regular basis and implement a true sense of happiness into their daily activities and events must run out and grab this book!