Counseling the Substance Abuser: Prevention, Intervention and Treatment.

Catalog description

This course is based on the fundamental assumption that substance abusers and their families are a heterogeneous group and must be treated from an individualized perspective. Clients dealing with substance abuse issues vary in their behavior patterns, the physical effects of drugs on them, and the life consequences of their drinking or other drug use, their personality, their social environment, gender, culture, and other life-span variables. Counseling strategies need to fit the goals and needs of the individual client. The counselor must develop the skills needed to work either as a substance abuse specialist or as a generalist who must sometimes address substance abuse problems/issues. Each student will be able to describe the history and scope of drug use in the United States, developmental correlates, and cultural differences affecting drug and substance abuse. Students will be able to document their understanding of drugs and addictions, recovery, and social problems with citations from current research.