This book is the first to utilize the empowerment approach of social work practice with substance-abusing clients, bridging clinical, community, and social policy approaches in order to place individual addiction in its sociopolitical context. As Lorraine Gutierrez points out in her foreword, the book "challenges us to transform our thinking about substance abuse and move beyond our existing focus on individual deficits." Arguing that pathology-focused definitions of substance abuse tend to transform people into their problems, Freeman instead advocates for strengths-centered policies and regulations as the means to empower clients, communities, and society as a whole. Freeman outlines basic empowerment principles and practices, then details the service delivery processes; offers a context for power, policy, and funding decisions; and examines the needs of special populations. Case examples supplement each chapter, and the final part examines four exemplary programs that demonstrate the empowerment process in action.

Freeman advocates strengths-centered policies as the means to empower clients and communities. Supplemented by case examples, this book outlines basic empowerment principles and practices, offers a context for power, policy, and funding decisions, and examines the needs of special populations.

About the Author
Edith Freeman is a professor of social work at the University of Kansas, and is the author of several books, including Substance Abuse Treatment: A Family Systems Perspective, The Addiction Process: Effective Social Work Practice, and coauthor of Social Work Practice with Black Families: A Culture Specific Approach.


Book Information
ISBN 9780231102360
Author Edith Freeman
Format Hardback
Page Count 480
Imprint Columbia University Press
Publisher Columbia University Press