A Cochrane Handbook of Alcohol and Drug Misuse

There is constant pressure for clinicians to practise evidence-based medicine.  Cochrane Reviews are an important source of the evidence which informs clinical decisions but can still require considerable time to read and digest.  This Cochrane Handbook of Alcohol and Drug Misuse serves as a concise guide to the evidence base for relevant interventions, highlighting the key points of Cochrane reviews for the busy practitioner.  

Each review is analysed in a structured format, starting with the question, a brief background and a summary answer, followed by the results presented in comprehensive and concise way. The authors then illustrate the value that the review adds to the current knowledge, the main methodological limitations of the included studies and finally the implications of the review’s conclusions for future research.

Addiction to drugs and alcohol is an increasing problem that all clinicians have to deal with. This is especially true for medical and family specialists but more so for those dealing with psychiatric, psychological and social problems.  The benefit of having the evidence underpinning the clinical approach to all aspects of this topic cannot be underestimated. 

The book’s comprehensive coverage of interventions provides an authoritative reference for all physicians working with these patients, from family practitioners to clinical specialists and psychiatric specialists. With addiction to drugs and alcohol an increasingly serious morbidity and public health issue, this book from the Cochrane Collaboration will find a wide audience.