Introduction to Addictive Behaviors

Sixth Edition

Dennis L. Thombs, Cynthia J. Osborn, and William V. Lechner

Hardcovere-bookprint + e-book
Hardcover
October 12, 2026
ISBN 9781462564248
Price: $70.00
471 Pages
Size: 6" x 9"
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e-book
October 12, 2026
PDF and Accessible ePub ?
Price: $70.00
471 Pages
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print + e-book
Hardcover + e-Book (PDF and Accessible ePub) ?
Price: $140.00 $84.00
471 Pages
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The authoritative text that has helped generations of students and practitioners build foundational knowledge about substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors is now in a revised and updated sixth edition. In one accessible volume, the text comprehensively reviews major theories of addiction and their implications for helping people recover. Keys to evidence-based prevention and treatment are highlighted throughout. Chapters address disease models of addiction; public health and prevention approaches; dual diagnosis; psychoanalytic, behavioral, cognitive, and family systems models; sociocultural approaches; behavioral addictions, such as gambling; and motivational models. Student-friendly features include illustrative clinical vignettes, end-of-chapter summaries, and review questions.

New to This Edition

About the Authors

Dennis L. Thombs, PhD, FAAHB, is Distinguished Professor of Public Health (retired) at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, where he formerly served as Dean of the School of Public Health. Before retiring, his research focus was addictive behavior, with special interests in the conceptualization of addiction and in alcohol and drug use during the period of emerging adulthood. Dr. Thombs is a past president and Fellow of the American Academy of Health Behavior.

Cynthia J. Osborn, PhD, LPCC-S, LICDC, is Professor Emerita of Counselor Education and Supervision at Kent State University. Her clinical background is in treatment of adults with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness. Before retiring, Dr. Osborn’s teaching, supervision, and scholarship focused on addictions counseling, particularly evidence-based practices such as motivational interviewing. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and has extensive experience in the clinical supervision of counselors-in-training and professional counselors.

William V. Lechner, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University, where he teaches courses including Drugs and Behavior, Introduction to Psychological Assessment, and Advanced Psychological Assessment. His research focuses on translating human laboratory findings into novel and effective therapeutic interventions for substance use disorders. Dr. Lechner’s work explores the bidirectional relationships between cognitive processes and addictive behaviors, including a recent study examining cognitive training combined with neuromodulation to improve executive functioning relevant to addiction outcomes.

Audience

Students in clinical psychology, counseling, social work, and nursing; beginning alcohol and other drug counselors; practicing mental health and human services professionals without extensive training in addictions.

Course Use

Serves as a text in advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses such as Addictive Behaviors, Addictions Counseling, Psychology of Addiction, and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
Previous editions published by Guilford:

Fifth Edition, © 2019
ISBN: 9781462539222

Fourth Edition, © 2013
ISBN: 9781462510689

Third Edition, © 2006
ISBN: 9781593852788

Second Edition, © 1999
ISBN: 9781572304116

First Edition, © 1994
ISBN: 9780898623369
New to this edition: