Chemical Dependency and the African American - Second Edition: Counseling and Prevention Strategies

First published in 1990, Chemical Dependency and the African American is revised and expanded to reflect updated statistics and the latest information in the treatment field. An expert on the topic of how cultural differences affect addiction treatment, Peter Bell, makes the decisive case that there is room in the disease theory of addiction to accommodate racial issues--not as causal factors, but as contributive.

Intrinsic to the holistic approach to addiction treatment, which addresses the individual's physical, mental, emotional, and physical health, are issues of race, culture, and class, says Bell. Unfortunately, these issues are largely ignored in the counselor-client setting. This leading text provides counselors with the framework for critical dialogue.

Features

• a thorough discussion of the African American perspective toward addiction treatment
• explores the dynamics of race, culture, and class in treatment and recovery
• addresses specific racial identity/recovery issues
• a leading, valuable resource for counselors and therapists

Peter Bell, executive vice president of Hazelden Publishing and Educational Services, is a nationally recognized author and trainer in the field of chemical dependency. He co-founded the Institute on Black Chemical Abuse and served as the organization's executive director for 15 years. Bell has worked as a consultant for treatment centers, schools, and government agencies, and has provided public-policy leadership on addiction issues. He lives in Minneapolis.