In the 1980s the study of alcoholism was in a period of rapid change, this book, originally published in 1985, identifies and explores the three most controversial contemporary issues: changes at the basic explanatory level in our concept of harmful drinking; the undermining of our confidence that drinking behaviour can be effectively modified in the traditional context of ‘treatment’; and the changes in our concept of the effective prevention of harmful drinking. The authors of the book came from a variety of backgrounds, but all were members of the New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group. They broadly reject the disease concept of alcoholism, but, as this volume shows, there is still scope for vigorous debate and this book should have something of interest for all concerned with problems of alcoholism.

Table of Contents:
General Introduction Nick Heather Part One: Is There an Alcohol Dependence Syndrome? Introduction Nick Heather 1. The Theoretical and Empirical Basis of the Alcohol Dependence Model: A Social Learning Perspective Ray Hodgson and Tim Stockwell 2. The Disease Concept of Dependence Stan Shaw 3. Some Requirements of an Alcohol Dependence Syndrome Jonathan Chick 4. Why Alcohol Dependence – and Why Now? Douglas Cameron 5. The Limitations of the Alcohol Dependence Syndrome in Multidisciplinary Service Development Anthony Thorley Part Two: Does Treatment Work? Introduction Ian Robertson 6. Treatment Does Not Work: Some Criteria of Failure Bill Saunders 7. Is Treatment an Effective Way of Helping Clients Resolve Difficulties Associated with Alcohol? Alan Cartwright 8. The Value of a Cognitive-Behavioural Approach in the Treatment of Problem Drinkers Steve Rollnick 9. Does Treatment Work? Yes, But Not Always in the Way We Plan It Fred Yates 10. Does Treatment Work? A Sociological Perspective Phil Davies 11. The Anatomy of Organisational Melancholia – or Why Treatment Works on Some Occasions and Not on Others George Gawlinski and Shirley Otto Part Three: What Is Effective Prevention? Introduction Phil Davies 12. Alcohol, Contexts and Undesirable Consequences: What Is To Be Prevented? Ron McKechnie 13. The Case for Controlling Alcohol Consumption Bill Saunders 14. The Role of Economic Measures in Preventing Drinking Problems Alan Maynard 15. Using Natural Resources for Preventing Drinking Problems Fred Yates and David Hebblethwaite 16. The Role of Mass Media Campaigns in Alcohol Health Education Anthony Thorley. List of Contributors. Index.