Psychoactive substance use ranks among the five top risk factors contributing to the global burden of disease. Substance use disorders can cause, mimic, underlie, or complicate a large number of medical and psychiatric conditions. In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in non-substance forms of addiction such as gambling, internet gaming, and various other behavioural addictions. The ability to diagnose addictive disorders and initiate appropriate management is a responsibility for all health professionals.Addiction Medicine, now in its third edition and published in the renowned Oxford Medical Handbook series, is the result of many years'' preparation by a group of colleagues who are clinicians, teachers, and researchers in the addictive disorders field. The handbook is a contemporary, broadly-based, and clinically grounded text that summarises the scientific basis and practice of addiction medicine. It provides practical guidance on clinical management but with a sound back
