Book excerpt: Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology is a comprehensive guide to the pharmacology of drugs of abuse and the medications used to treat dependence on those substances. This new, second edition provides a thorough update on a broad range of addictive substances, along with enhanced coverage in areas where significant advances have been made since publication of the first edition. Clinicians, including psychiatrists, psychiatric residents and fellows, and other mental health practitioners who encounter individuals with substance-related disorders in the course of their clinical work, will find the manual to be well-organized, exhaustively referenced, and current. The book is structured for ease of use and completeness of coverage, with an abundance of beneficial features: Material is presented in a systematic fashion, addressing epidemiology, pharmacology of the abused substance (including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics), psychopharmacological treatments, and issues of dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and abstinence. Both basic science and clinical dimensions are addressed, and these different perspectives, including pharmacotherapy and the psychosocial aspects of treatment, are integrated to allow clinicians a more holistic and effective treatment approach. Coverage of the pharmacology of drugs of abuse is thorough and reflects the latest research findings, providing a necessary background for understanding the clinical effects and treatment of dependence on these substances. Coverage of pharmacotherapy for dependence on these drugs is equally comprehensive, with meticulously detailed findings and evidence-based recommendations for the clinical care of patients dependent on a variety of substances. Tables are used strategically to present complex information in a logical and accessible way; for example, the table on management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome includes detailed information on the symptom-triggered approach, fixed dose schedules, and delirium in a condensed, yet easy-to-understand format. The book is well written and edited for clarity and accuracy by editors and contributors at the forefront of the psychopharmacology of addiction. As new drugs come into the market and old drugs find new applications, clinicians must stay current to provide the best care. Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology helps them to do just that, offering both sound science and clinical wisdom to meet the complex challenges of treating individuals with substance-related disorders.