Accessible and comprehensive, Loosening the Grip remains an authoritative source for information about alcohol use and the problems associated with it, while also addressing the relationship between alcohol and other drug use. The text presents the physical and psychological effects of alcohol, alongside the impact of its use on the family and society.

Special attention is given to the range of responses to potential problems of alcohol use, including prevention, harm reduction, assessment, referral and treatment, and the risks for anyone of heavy alcohol use. Along with providing an historical foundation, Loosening the Grip also sets forth basic information on other drugs of abuse, whether street drugs or prescription drugs.

NEW FEATURES OF THE 13th EditionThe impact of the COVID pandemic on those with substance use disorders, substance use in general, and changes to treatment approaches that resulted. The fentanyl health crisis as a parallel epidemic to the opioid epidemic.

The rapidly changing legal status of marijuana and the potential it may have for individuals, communities, and the drug trade. Updated statistics on use patterns including how the COVID pandemic may have affected both alcohol and substance use disorders and also data collection methods.

Updated terminology in alignment with DSM-5-TR. WHAT AN INSTRUCTOR SAYS ABOUT LOOSENING THE GRIP:"Loosening the Grip is, and has been the standard setter in the addiction profession since first publication in 1978.

My first experience with the text occurred as a student in 1999, and I literally devoured the text, which was filled with material about alcohol, its effects on the body and mind, and how to best treat the condition of alcohol use disorder. I now am a licensed addiction counselor and addiction educator, and as such utilize this text exclusively in my alcohol course within our accredited addiction counseling and prevention program.

This is not only an essential encyclopedia on all things concerning alcohol addiction and recovery, but includes materials about other substances of abuse, along with materials on co-occurring mental health disorders. Students state that they love this book as much as I did in 1999, and this creates a much higher level of retention in our major and minor.

I plan to continue using this very engaging, accurate and useful book for many years to come. " - John Korkow, LAC, PhD, SAP.