Book excerpt: Only the very rare among us are completely unscathed by the effects of addiction - our own, that of a family member, friend, or coworker. Even the addictions of strangers - from the drunk driver or drug addict, to gambling, food, spending, or violence-addicted people - may subject us to dangers, threaten our well-being, and drain money from our pockets. Recent national estimates in just the US show that substance abuse and addiction alone cost taxpayers a total of nearly $500 billion a year. In these volumes, experts from around the world present the newest issues, research, and insights into addictions of all kinds. Led by Angela Browne-Miller, Director of the Metaxis Compulsive and Habitual Behaviors Institute in California, this team of contributors includes scholars and practitioners from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Thailand, Africa, and Russia. Topics range from drug addiction among male, female, teen, and aging populations, and among White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, Native American, and other groups, using liquor, cocaine, methamphetamine, khat, and/or other lesser known drugs, to behavioral addictions including online gaming, excessive buying, and eating disorders. Chapters also address issues including addiction as a public health problem and the politics of drug treatment policies. Treatment methods for addictions, from electrotherapy to holistic approaches are addressed, as are spiritual, psychological, and cross-cultural issues involved. The experts behind these chapters include those from the University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Purdue University, to McGill University, Nottingham Trent University, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.