Theory and Models of Substance Abuse

Catalog description

This is an online course which will use Blackboard to access the online portion. This course is will introduce students to the history of substance abuse and treatment and the basic physiology of substance abuse. The course will examine theories of chemical dependency, models of substance abuse therapy, and how the abuse of alcohol and other drugs affect the body with emphasis on the central nervous system, organ systems and general physical health. The physiological basis for the disease concept of addiction will be reviewed. Psychoactive drug categories will be explored in relation to the history of use, routes of administration and how the body processes licit and illicit substances. The effects of drugs and pharmacological interactions on metabolic processes and neuropsychological functioning will be discussed.