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For socioeconomic and political reasons, we usually classify alcohol abuse and drug abuse into 2 distinct categories.  By doing this, we promote the idea that substance abuse is a serious problem and alcohol abuse is less of a problem.  The truth is that there are about 10 times more problem drinkers in the U.S. than drug addicts.  I do not mean to minimize the seriousness of drug abuse  --  it is a very serious issue. However, we must not forget that alcohol is a drug, and it is the drug that ruins, by far, more lives and leads to more deaths than any other drug.  All social services and health care providers need to have a solid understanding of the signs and symptoms of alcohol/drug abuse, as well as  basic interventions skills, because substance abuse and addiction are highly correlated with most behavioral problems.  General social services methods alone are simply not adequate for the most basic assessment and intervention process.

Books:

Kinney, J. (1999).  Loosing The Grip: A Handbook of Alcohol Information (6^th ed.). 

McGraw-Hill Companies.

Landry, M. (1994).  Understanding Drugs of Abuse: The Process of Addiction,

Treatment, and Recovery.  Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.

Schuckit, M. (2000).  Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and

Treatment.  New York, NY: Plenum US.

Articles:

Kurtz, E. (1982).  Why A.A. works:  the intellectual significance of alcoholics

anonymous.  Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 43(1),  38-80.

Links:

Site map for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHA). A wealth of information and free publications from the United States Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.samhsa.gov/index.aspx

Web of Addictions

http://www.well.com/user/woa/

The Treatment Improvement Exchange

http://www.treatment.org/