Rich traditions of group therapy permeate the substance misuse field – from residential and day–centre group programmes and the fellowship group tradition to the panoply of support/education and relapse prevention groups offered by out–patient services. There are specialist groups – e.g. art therapy and psychodrama– and groups for special population– e.g. relatives, prisoners and adult children of alcoholics. This important collection is written by many well–known experts, several renowned on the international stage, with perspectives from the UK, USA and Scandinavia. They share their extensive experiences in the conceptualisation, setting up and running of therapy groups. Ultimately, all are concerned in their groups to increase empathic contact and thereby to facilitate opportunities for addicts to embark upon change. With no equivalent UK book of its kind, the reader has a rare opportunity to consider this subject in impressive scope, diversity and depth.