This engaging book provides a novel examination of the nature of addiction, suggesting that by exploring akrasia—the tendency to act against one’s better judgement—we can better understand our addictive behaviors. It offers an alternative to the dominant biomedical model of addiction as a chronic brain disease by looking at the nature of how we make decisions and proposing the idea that biased choice is central to addiction. The book looks at both classic substance use disorders and newer “addictions” to smartphones, meat and fossil fuels. It discusses current perspectives on free will in philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, and the questions surrounding free will versus determinism, including our ability to steer our behaviors guided by the promise of future outcomes. Different perspectives on addiction and choice are presented in an eloquent style, and illustrated by personal stories. Through a lively discussion of the key scientific and philosophical issues surrounding addiction, this book is valuable for students in psychology, criminology, sociology and social work, as well as health care professionals and general readers interested in the nature of our free will.

Twenty-first century neuroscience has discovered that in some severe cases, addiction may so constrain human freedom that the will is only able to choose to use substances of abuse. At this advanced stage, substance use has become the primary driver of salience, co-opting and subsuming other moral priorities and human rewards. Scholars have investigated Aristotle's concept of akrasia as an ancient mirror of this understanding and there have been some preliminary discussions of Augustine's concept of the divided will as it bears on addiction. No detailed and comprehensive exploration of the work of Augustine has yet been undertaken as it relates to three contemporary models of addiction: the choice, learning, and brain disease models. Augustine's psychological awareness, his mastery of ancient theological and philosophical thinking, and his enormous and enduring influence on both Catholic and Protestant theology, make him an ideal subject for such research. This incisive book argues that Augustine's doctrine of the captive will offers a theological parallel of each of these contemporary models of addiction.

This book has a much wider focus than traditional books written about drug and alcohol addictions. This unique book is written by medical specialists who diagnose, treat and research addictive disorders in their specialities. Thus, it meets the needs of the typical medical practitioner who wants to learn about and treat patients with addictive disorders in their practices. Because alcohol and drug problems are so prevalent and affect medical conditions profoundly, the medical specialist will improve their knowledge and skill to diagnose and treat addictive disorders in their specialties. Drug and alcohol addictions occur commonly in medical populations; 25–50% of patients seen by primary care physicians have alcohol and drug disorders, with even higher prevalence in certain medical specialty populations. Drug use (including illicit drug use and actual or perceived misuse of prescribed medications), alcohol use, and what has been called unhealthy drinking are even more common in trauma centers and our society. Currently, there are no authoritative addiction texts that focus on the identification, intervention and management of either “addictive disorders in medical populations” or “medical complications in addiction populations”. Neurobiological progress in the field of addiction has been amazing and evidence-based treatments have developed at a phenomenal pace, with bench to office applications for tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Pharmacological and psychosocial treatments are described here in detail and in practical terms. The medical and mental complications of addiction are explained comprehensively throughout the text. Clinical considerations are the predominant theme, with the standards of clinical practice grounded in the most current research. The chapters include practical presentations of both clinical and research materials, with instruments for screening and assessment and treatment. It will be useful for all those seeking information to help a patient or family with a tobacco, alcohol or drug problem. We hope this book can give answers and direction to the identification and management of addictions and their medical complications in patient populations.

The second volume in the Research in Management Consulting series focuses on developing knowledge and value in management consulting. While there has been an exponential explosion in both the presence and role played by management consultants, the exact nature of their contribution —to client organizations, to our understanding of management and organization, to our comprehension of the increasingly complex dynamics associated with business in a global marketplace, and to the development of their own firms—remains ambiguous. Just as the business world is experiencing rapid and, at times, volatile change, the consulting industry itself is also facing unprecedented change and challenge. Over the next decade, forecasts suggest a world of difference for management consulting, from different competitors and different types of projects and assignments, to different skill sets and different fee structures, to different client expectations.

Crime and Economics provides the first comprehensive and accessible text to address the economics of crime within the study of crime and criminology. The economics of crime is an area of growing activity and concern, increasingly influential both to the study of crime and criminal justice and to the formulation of crime reduction and criminal justice policy. As well as providing an overview of the relationship between economics and crime, this book poses key questions such as: What is the impact of the labour market and poverty on crime? Can society decrease criminal activity from a basis of economic disincentives? What forms of crime reduction and methods of reducing re-offending are most cost beneficial? Can illicit organised crime and illicit drug markets be understood better through the application of economic analysis? For those interested in economic methods, but without previous economic training, this book also provides an accessible overview of key areas such as cost-benefit analysis, econometrics and the debate around how to estimate the costs of crime. This book will be key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of criminology and economics and those working in the criminal justice system including practitioners, managers and policy makers.

Collaborative Ethnomusicology explores the processes, benefits and challenges of collaborative ethnomusicological research between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. While there are many examples of research and recordings that demonstrate close collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, this volume is the first to focus on the ways these processes allow Indigenous and non-Indigenous music researchers to work together and learn from each other. Drawing on case studies from across Australia, each chapter brings significant insights into the many positives and some of the discomforts in collaborative spaces, highlighting the ongoing dialogue needed in order to improve relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and inform the future of ethnomusicological research in Australia.

In 2008, an estimated 34billion euros was spent on the drugs problem in the EU. Much more needs to be done - and must be done - in the battle against the EU's drugs problem. The EU must be more effective in its fight against drugs trafficking, and should call on Member States to be more ready to learn from each other's experiences and to encourage cross-border dialogue between their local governments and cities. Following a six month-long inquiry, the Committee agree that the Member States should, as now, retain responsibility for their own drugs policies. They recommend that the new EU Strategy should concentrate on three key areas. Firstly, co-ordination, through Europol, of the fight against drug trafficking ensuring that any new measures actually reduce the supply of drugs and do not merely move trafficking elsewhere. Secondly, improvement of the collection, analysis, evaluation and distribution of information by the European Monitoring Centre. Thirdly, reliance on the EU's public health obligations and use of public health duties to encourage Member States to devote more resources to harm reduction and to engage in dispassionate and evidence-based discussions on how best to treat the possession and use of drugs. The Committee believes that the creation of a new drugs strategy, lasting until 2020, should provide the perfect platform for a wider and better informed public debate on different Member States' policies and approaches