Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain

(Hardback)

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In Treating Addiction: Beyond the Pain, Edward Khantzian offers a collection of his recent works on the study and treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Based on his five decades of experience in working with substance dependent individuals, this volume builds upon Khantzians theory of addiction as self-medication and provides insights into how addiction is rooted in human psychological suffering, and not pleasure seeking or self-destruction. Almost without exception, life histories of human discomfort, disconnection, and unhappiness leave those so burdened to be vulnerable to the appeal of addictive drugs, including alcohol. Khantzians sensitive teaching voice weaves together an annotated collection of previously published papers into a powerful and engaging volume of effective practice-based treatments. A timely complement to his earlier collection Treating Addiction as a Human Process, this book provides an inclusive and accessible resource for mental health professionals from any background as well as graduate students and those in training.

Reviews

I would recommend Khantzians book to beginners and practitioners alike. It shows beginners the person behind this disorder, while serving as a reminder for experienced practitioners of the human suffering associated with drug misuse. -- Martin Weegmann, psychologist, psychotherapist, and author, United Kingdom
Few patients suffer as much as those with addictive disorders and few doctors understand the pain and suffering these patients go through as much as Dr. Khantzian. This book is a must read for all healthcare professionals and families helping their patients deal better with their aching souls. -- Richard Frances, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, New York University, MD, clinical professor of Psychiatry, New York University
It has been my joy and privilege to work with and learn from Ed Khantzian for more than a quarter century. These collected works flesh out the many facets of the self-medication hypothesis, as I have heard Ed clearly and patiently articulate them over the years. At its heart, the approach to understanding and treating people suffering with addictions that Ed has pioneered is empathic and compassionate. It sees beyond the stigmata of addiction to the vulnerability and suffering at its core. Reading this book is bound to make us all better companions and caregivers of those we know and love who struggle with addiction. -- Mark Albanese, director, Adult Outpatient Psychiatry & Addiction Service, Cambridge Health Alliance
This is a masterful, humanistic perspective on addiction and its treatment from a thought leader who helped define the very nature of this field. Its a must read for anyone who wants an understanding of where we have been and where we are heading with treatment. -- Marc Galanter, M.D., professor of psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine

Author Bio

EDWARD J. KHANTZIAN, MD, is professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and past president of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Khantzian is a distinguished scholar, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst, specializing in addictions for more than forty years. His other work includes Treating Addiction as a Human Process and (with Mark J. Albanese) Understanding Addiction as Self Medication: Finding Hope Behind the Pain.