About the author: quoting from the book's back cover, "Denis Meacham is affiliate minister at First Parish Brewster (Cape Cod, MA) and director of its Center for Addictions Ministry. Meacham also maintains a private addictions therapy practice. A trained psychotherapist and licensed drug and alcohol counselor, Meacham received his addictions training at the University of Massachusetts in Boston and Harvard Medical School, where he was a Zinberg Clinical Fellow in the Division of Addictions." About the book: Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer, Children, Family and Intergenerational Programs Director, UUA said of this book, "Faith communities can and do make a difference in the lives of families struggling with addiction problems! Meacham's 'Addiction Ministry Handbook' is an excellent resource for Unitarian Universalist congregations and their lay leaders--for the knowledge found on every page, the inclusive attention to our broad spiritual foundations and the practical tools it provides for caregivers and addiction ministry committees." This book is well indexed and includes a list of commonly abused substances along with descriptions of how the body metabolizes them and the potential health consequences of their useage. Also included is a list of useful websites and a bibliography for lay people.