A new book by Steven Sussman, PhD, professor of preventive medicine, psychology and social work, takes a broad, multidisciplinary look at addiction.

“Substance and Behavioral Addictions: Concepts, Causes, and Cures” focuses on two categories of addiction, substance (tobacco, alcohol, other drugs and food) and behavioral (gambling, electronic media, love, sex, shopping, exercise and work).

“A seminal work in the field of addictions, this book offers innovative ideas that will appeal to university students and prolific researchers, as well as experienced practitioners,” said Rory Reid, research psychologist at University of California, Los Angeles, in his endorsement of the book.

Sussman presents a novel framework — an “appetitive effects model” — informed by the fields of social and clinical psychology, psychiatry, philosophy of science, social work, sociology, preventive medicine and neuroscience, among others.

In addition, he explores the prevalence of these addictions and how they relate, as some occur simultaneously or get replaced by other addictions. The text also delves into addiction assessment methods, prevention, treatment and future directions.

“Addiction potentially impacts half of adults every year,” Sussman said. “If we understand just how widespread addiction is, we can start to understand it as a problem of lifestyle that impacts our neurobiological systems.”

The textbook is available to purchase through Cambridge University Press and other major book sellers.

— Larissa Puro