ABSTRACT
Addictive behaviors, such as substance misuse, gambling, and internet gaming, and their attendant problems are associated with significant difficulties for individuals, families, communities, and nations, and underlie serious global public health, mental health, legal, economic, and social concerns. Social workers and professionals in other disciplines have much to offer in response to addictive behaviors and their associated problems. This chapter introduces the rationale, intended audiences, structure, and contents of The Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behavior. This chapter provides an orientation to several key issues and trending topics with respect to addictive behaviors: the use of language, defining addictive disorders, outlining diagnostic criteria (DSM-5 and ICD-11), introducing the disease model of substance use disorders, and delineating harm reduction strategies. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications for social work and allied health professions.
