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Introduction xvii sense, drug and alcohol use has been a significant part of the history of the world we know today and continues to shape the economy and politics of every country on Earth. Considering how common substance abuse really is and how far-reaching its effects are, the need for better prevention and treatment options to help substance abusers and their families is plain enough. Unfortunately, along with well-meaning government policies that often do more harm than good, there are still far too many misconceptions about substance abuse, often spread by well-meaning friends and family members, as well as through the Internet, that add to the burden many substance abusers and their families face. In my new book Substance Abuse: Your Questions Answered, I debunk some of the misconceptions about substance abuse and discuss how dam- aging these widely held beliefs can be. The book answers many of the most common questions people are likely to ask about substance abuse and is broken down into different sections to help readers focus on what is most important to them. The sections are General Information Causes and Risk Factors Consequences of Substance Abuse Culture, Media, and Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Life after Substance Abuse. Along with case studies exploring different aspects of substance abuse, a Directory of Resources is provided for people seeking additional information. This book is intended to provide basic information to anyone whose life has been affected by drug or alcohol abuse, whether they are the sub- stance abusers themselves, concerned friends, family members, teachers, or treatment professionals. Though written in commonsense language for anyone to understand, a glossary is also provided for any technical terms you may not recognize. For far too many substance abusers and their families, there is often a sense of pessimism that comes from the idea that addicts are incapable of breaking free of their addiction. This is far from the case, however, as countless success stories have shown, some of which is mentioned in this book. The most critical thing to remember is that the right help is out there you just need to be willing to find it. Good luck!