This book is published by International Academic Press and distributed by Trafford Publishing, Victoria, BC, Canada

Alcohol use disorders are a major medical and social problem facing many countries. The consumption of alcoholic beverages has risen steadily since World War II and drinking begins now at an earlier age. The steady increase in alcohol production and consumption is related to the broader growth of commodity production in industrialized societies in which alcoholic beverages are consumed in tandem with other new forms of commodities and foods.

Alcohol use is associated with suicide risk. It plays two different roles. Ongoing alcohol use disorders can contribute to suicide risk by effects on mood and impulsive-aggressive traits. Acute alcohol consumption at the time of a suicide attempt can have a disinhibiting effect. Alcohol is involved in 40 percent of suicide attempts. Nonetheless, individuals with alcohol dependence have a 60 - 120 times greater suicide risk than the non-psychiatrically ill population.

In this book you will find:

• Prenatal, childhood and genetic influences
  
• Neurobiology
  
• Epidemiology of alcohol consumption
  
• Clinical aspects
  
• Comorbidity
  
• Acute alcohol use
  
• Prevention
  
• Reflections

Leo Sher, MD is a psychiatrist with a background in internal medicine. His areas of research and clinical expertise include neurobiology, diagnosis, and treatment of mood, anxiety, and personality disorders, alcoholism, and suicidal behavior. He is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and Research Psychiatrist in the Department of Neuroscience at the New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City. He has authored more than 250 scientific publications, is a reviewer for numerous medical journals, the recipient of several awards and the first researcher in North America who introduced the use of the combined dexamethasone suppression/corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test for psychiatric purposes.
E-mail: LS2003@columbia.edu
Website: asp.cumc.columbia.edu

Isack Kandel, MA, PhD, is senior lecturer/assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Behavioral Sciences, the Academic College of Judea and Samaria, Ariel, Israel. During the period 1985-93 he served as the director of the Division for Mental Retardation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Jerusalem, Israel.
E-mail: kandelii@zahav.net.il

Joav Merrick, MD, MMedSci, DMSc, is professor of child health and human development affiliated with the Zusman Child Development Center, Division of Pediatrics, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel, the medical director of the Division for Mental Retardation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Jerusalem, the founder and director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Numerous publications in the field of child health and human development, rehabilitation, intellectual disability, disability, health, welfare, abuse, advocacy, quality of life and prevention. Received the Peter Sabroe Child Award for outstanding work on behalf of Danish Children in 1985 and the International LEGO-Prize ("The Children's Nobel Prize") for an extraordinary contribution towards improvement in child welfare and well-being in 1987.
E-Mail: jmerrick@internet-zahav.net.
Website: www.nichd-israel.com