Key to understanding drug misuse is an awareness of the full range of models that seek to define, explain and treat the problem. This book covers the full breadth of medical, social and psychological approaches to drug use, while retaining focus on the one question which is seldom asked: What do drug users themselves think? Based on extensive research, Understanding Drug Misuse offers comprehensive analysis of the diversity of drug-related problems, interwoven with frank - and often challenging - user perspectives. Combining theory and research evidence with extracts from the author's own interviews with drug users, this insightful text explores: drug use, drug dependence and discussion of maintenance versus abstinence health risks, harm minimization and public health solutions social harm, social exclusion, and problems of community safety and crime practice implications for harm minimization, treatment, after-care and relapse prevention With practical guidance that will inform all work directly related to drug policy or practice, Understanding Drug Misuse is an essential text for all students taking modules in substance abuse and addiction studies. It also makes fascinating and fundamental reading for specialist and generic workers in the health, social care and criminal justice professions.