No Abstract Available

This chapter starts with a short review of the medical perspective regarding addictions, more specifically alcoholism. The split between behavior addiction, like gambling or gaming on the one hand and addictions related to substance use on the other is not clear-cut, and it is argued that heavy drinking is a behavior even if it often is characterized as a substance use disorder. Alcoholism is a prototype of addictions and a classic example of it, and since it has historical roots, a lot of research has been conducted on alcohol consumption and heavy drinking which is why it is focused on initially. Some more general contributions of the social sciences in the field of alcohol research are presented since it broadens the view on addictive behavior. Research on social and cultural factors of significance for addiction has yielded insights into the understanding of what addiction is. Finally, three perspectives from the social sciences on addictions generally are presented. They have a specific feature in common and that is that they all use a general frame of action on addictions implying that addictive processes are natural, not pathological.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a form of knowledge management and is a trend that has influenced many professional fields during the past 10–15 years, including social work. In Sweden, a campaign for an implementation of EBP has been launched towards social work practice from the Swedish central authority since the late 1990s. Knowledge management in social work can however take other directions which seem to be the case in Finland. Finland and Sweden bear many resemblances concerning political and administrative structures as well as approaches in the social services. Both countries also have highly educated social workers. The main question for the study was how come demands to implement EBP in the personal social services have been so strongly articulated in Sweden but not in Finland. The aim was to reflect on knowledge management in social work in two similar cases, Finland and Sweden, focusing EBP. Results show that the close contacts between representatives of the Swedish authority and proponents of a radical EBP version in the US was a decisive factor for the campaign towards social work in Sweden. Such mediators and proponents seemed to be absent in Finland. The length and the focus on academic skills in the education of social workers in Finland is seen as a contributing factor, giving Finnish social workers a sense of being ‘true professionals’ and thus more independent towards external demands.