Introduction to Addictive Behaviors

“Thombs and Osborn, both accomplished researchers and clinicians in addictions studies, found the right blend to appeal to all levels in this intellectual marketplace. With their systematic prose and pedagogical aids for enhancing readability—end-of-chapter summaries and review questions for each chapter—the authors help students master the addictions literature. The book appears to have been thoroughly updated since the last edition, with the latest statistics covering the sharply spiraling rises of drug overdose deaths and newly emerging treatment techniques….Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.”

—Choice Reviews


“The book is very readable and contains numerous tables and figures which help clarify the text….This excellent book describes the different facets of addiction, exploring theory, prevention, and intervention issues. Professionals and students alike will be pleased with this book. *****!”

—Doody's Review Service


“The text is well written, lucid, economical in style....Good value for the money.”

—Journal of Substance Use (on the second edition)


“This book is indeed an introduction—but it also offers much more. Every practitioner and student who works or plans to work with individuals with addiction will benefit from the fifth edition's wealth of up-to-date knowledge. I am impressed by the attention to current research influencing the field, as well as the illustrative case examples that ground the reader in the experience of addicted individuals. This text does not shy away from the important questions and controversies about disease models, causes of addiction, and types of public health and treatment approaches. If you and your students want diverse, multidimensional perspectives on addiction, presented synergistically, this is the text you should choose.”

—Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of Maryland, Baltimore County


“This book is useful to a wide range of clinicians working in substance abuse treatment. It introduces students and entry-level practitioners to addictive behaviors on multiple levels—theoretical models, research findings, and practical clinical interventions. More experienced practitioners will find it an excellent update and review. By providing multiple perspectives, the book gives a good foundation for individualizing treatment.”

—Joan E. Zweben, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco; staff psychologist, San Francisco VA Medical Center


“This is one of the best books I have read that integrates theory, research, and practice in addictions. The highly accessible fifth edition includes outstanding coverage of the genetics of addictive behaviors, as well as other updates. What I love about this book is that Thombs and Osborn offer the reader a wide variety of strategies for addressing substance use problems, providing the flexibility needed to meet the needs of different groups of clients. I will use this text in my master’s-level social work courses; it is a great resource for students as they develop as clinicians and begin to practice in diverse settings.”

—Mary Marden Velasquez, PhD, Director, Health Behavior Research and Training Institute, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin


“I have used successive editions of this text in my advanced undergraduate seminar on addictions for almost 20 years. The fifth edition does an excellent job of covering new findings and treatment methods while still preserving much of the classic literature. Without question, this text offers the most comprehensive and objective coverage of this very complex subject. In an age of misinformation and 'alternative facts,' Thombs and Osborn remain committed to rigorous science and how it can be translated into effective treatment and prevention. They provide balanced, unbiased coverage of many different ways of understanding addiction, giving a fair hearing to every point of view.”

—Richard Siegel, PhD, Department of Psychology (Emeritus), University of Massachusetts Lowell


“I have used prior editions of this book as the main text in my undergraduate Research on Addictive Behaviors class for years. The authors provide a readable and comprehensive review of theories of addiction and current issues in the field. The fifth edition includes a fully revised chapter on social and cultural foundations of addiction, with approachable discussions of the opioid crisis, stigma, and the evolving addiction treatment industry.”

—Kathleen M. Palm Reed, PhD, Department of Psychology, Clark University