Understanding and Treating Addictions: Social, Cultural, and Political Perspectives

Catalog description

This course examines the etiology and treatment of addiction from a social, cultural, and political perspective. Issues of racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, and other social stressors will be explored as risk factors that perpetuate addiction and interfere with long-term recovery. Current social and political issues will be discussed along with disparities in public policies. The impact of current social issues including the legalization of marijuana, the opioid epidemic, the privatization of the prison system and long-term impact of a drug conviction, the failure of the War on Drugs, and the implications of the Just Say No campaign will be explored. Student’s ability to assess cases from a culturally competent perspective will be emphasized including the ability to integrate the effects that oppression and inequality have on sustained recovery and relapse. Similarly, the impact of the various empowerment movements on recovery will be considered. The Recovery Model, Albee’s work around social issues and prevention, and Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecological Model will be applied to socially, culturally, and politically competent case conceptualization and treatment planning. This course also covers the ethics of addiction treatment.