Substance abuse is the nation's number one health problem, and also a major health problem worldwide. In the United States, less than half of those in need of treatment actually receive it both due to the reluctance of insurance companies to cover this treatment and of patients to seek it. Like previous editions from 1994 and 1999, this comprehensive third edition reflects the still-growing commitment of psychiatry to addressing the problem of substance abuse. Fully updated and divided into seven main parts, this invaluable textbook offers a depth and scope unparalleled in the literature. The 94 distinguished contributors discuss the latest basic and clinical perspectives on the nature of addiction and the process by which a person becomes addicted.