This monograph investigates the multifaceted mechanisms that drive change in addictive behaviors, questioning whether addiction is best understood as a progressive disease or a neurobiological adaptation. Edited by Griffith Edwards and Malcolm H. Lader, the text synthesizes contributions from a 1992 Society for the Study of Addiction symposium. It presents a multidisciplinary framework that integrates psychological, pharmacological, and socio-economic variables to explain how and why individuals alter their substance use patterns over time.

Experts recognize this volume as a significant academic resource for understanding the theoretical underpinnings of addiction recovery processes. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for researchers and clinicians rather than a general audience.