Understanding and Treating Addictions: Biological Perspectives

Catalog description

This course examines addiction from a biological perspective in order to increase understanding of addictive behaviors and guide treatment. In addition to considering heredity and trauma as biological risk factors, the ways that drug abuse changes the structure and chemistry of the brain are explored. By understanding the biochemistry and physiology of addiction, students gain insight into the progressive process from substance use to diagnosable Substance Use Disorder, including the phenomena of triggers, craving, relapse, tolerance, and withdrawal. Students learn comprehensive treatment planning and biologically-based interventions through the lens of the Medical Model and Disease Model. Harm Reduction and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be discussed and Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) will be introduced as an intervention from an evidence-based, neurobiological perspective. Students will gain an awareness of common biological comorbidities that occur within this population to consider during assessment and treatment planning. Students will learn to effectively translate and articulate what they learn in order to provide psychoeducation to clients regarding the biology of addiction and recovery.