Mental Health and Addiction Care in the Middle East

Book excerpt: This ambitious resource describes innovative intervention programs for treating substance abuse and other mental health problems in the Middle East in the context of larger issues in the region. Deftly combining clinical acumen with in-depth knowledge of sociopolitical currents, contributors present data and analysis on similarities and differences within the region, addiction issues in special populations (youth, mothers, immigrants), and the efficacy of local and international initiatives. New trends in evidence-based responses, including mental health services in war and disaster, are related to the larger goals of promoting peace. To that end, the editors go beyond the concept of shared problems to discuss strategies toward shared solutions, most notably psychological first aid as a healing approach to mediation. Among the topics covered: Drug abuse in the Middle East: promoting mutual interests through resistance and resilience. Toward uniform data collection and monitoring of Israeli and Palestinian adolescent drug use. Substance abusing mothers: toward an understanding of parenting and risk behavior. Immigration, acculturation, and drug use. Psychological first aid: a tool for mitigating conflict in the Middle East. Collaborative approaches to addressing mental health and addiction. For health psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and addiction counselors, Mental Health and Addiction Care in the Middle East demonstrates the deep potential for mental health and social issues to be addressed to benefit all communities involved.