Pharmacotherapy for Complex Substance Use Disorders

Accessible, easily referenced chapters include actionable information on the neurobiology of addiction, general approaches to taking a history, guidelines for making medical and psychiatric evaluations and forming a diagnosis, and discussion of the pharmacological treatment of a range of substances.

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In 2020, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 40.3 million Americans met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Yet few FDA-approved treatments exist for SUDs—and no explicit treatment guidelines. When it comes to multi-SUDs in particular, the dearth of literature is notable.


This is where Pharmacotherapy for Complex Substance Use Disorders: A Practical Guide comes in. Fifteen addiction psychiatrists have contributed to this volume, bringing their clinical experience to bear for readers that include mental health and primary care clinicians.


Introductory chapters provide a necessary framework, offering an overview of SUDs; general guidelines for taking a history, making a medical and a psychiatric evaluation, and forming a diagnosis; and a discussion of the neurobiology of addiction.


In the subsequent chapters, the volume delves into maintenance pharmacological treatment for co-occurring substances that include


• Alcohol
• Opioids
• Psychostimulants
• Novel psychoactive substances


Uniquely, this guide also discusses psychopharmacological approaches to working with special patient populations—adolescents, LGBTQ+ individuals, and pregnant people among them.


Filled with tables for ease of reference both when diagnosing and treating patients, and bolstered by evidence-based, actionable information, Pharmacotherapy for Complex Substance Use Disorders: A Practical Guide sets itself apart as an indispensable resource for all providers aiding individuals on their journeys of recovery.