Addictions & Dual Diagnoses

Catalog description

This interdisciplinary course, designed for graduate students in public health at Case Western Reserve University, will explore the extent and types of alcohol/ drug addictions and co-occurring mental health problems prevalent in the U.S. and worldwide, as well as the historical and current contexts of public health prevention and treatment efforts. The course takes a bio-psychosocial approach to prevention, assessment, treatment and public health intervention efforts regarding alcohol and other drug abuse problems. The course introduces the student to the etiology and treatment of alcohol/ other drug abuse problems and co-occurring mental health disorders in the context of public health. The historical background and the development of the evidence base for alcohol and other drug treatment interventions, self-help groups, and conceptual models of addiction will be presented. Additional emphasis will be placed on current knowledge and research on maternal drug use during pregnancy, fetal exposures and developmental sequelae. Emphasis will be placed on current screening, assessment, prevention and legal issues, including racial and social class disparities. Students will be asked to explore their own attitudes and values towards alcohol and drug abuse problems and how those may affect larger legal and public health efforts. Case studies will be used to illustrate similarities and differences among various populations, including minority and ethnic identity groups.