Overview of Theory and Treatment of Substance Abuse – PSYC 305

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course introduces the neurobiology and theoretical models of addiction. Students will learn about the behavioral and physiological effects of the major drugs of abuse, prevention strategies throughout the life span, and treatment of substance use disorder.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

This course is designed to equip the student with the theoretical basis of addictions and the ability to clinically assess and diagnose individuals with substance related problems. In addition, the student will be introduced to the neurobiology of addiction and gain an understanding of treatment options and the psychopharmacology of drugs. Finally, he/she will be able to identify the dually-diagnosed client and make appropriate treatment recommendations for the client with substance-related problems.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be a minimum of 200 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmate’s thread. Each reply must be a minimum of 100 words. In preparation for Discussion: Twelve-Step Meeting Experience, the student will attend a Twelve-step meeting and discuss his/her experience with classmates. The Twelve-Step Meeting Selection Assignment will prepare the student for this Discussion.  (CLO A, B, C, E).

Community Support PowerPoint or Pamphlet Assignment

The student will create either a PowerPoint presentation or a pamphlet to be used in presenting to a community or church group in order to solicit support for substance abuse/addiction treatment. The assignment must include at least 1–2 sources in current APA format. The PowerPoint presentation must contain 8–10 slides and include a script for each slide. The pamphlet must be bi-fold or tri-fold and use both sides of the paper. (CLO A, C, D, E).

Addiction Paper Assignment

The student will write a 3–5-page research-based paper in current APA format that focuses on a specific addiction. The paper must include at least 3 outside sources that are from current, professional (peer-reviewed) journals and have been published in the last 5 years.  (CLO A, B, C, E).

Case Study Assessment Paper Assignment

The student will thoroughly assess one of the individuals from the case histories provided and write a 6–8-page paper on the topic. The assessment must address the spiritual, genetic, and psychosocial aspects of the individual’s behavior. The student must incorporate what has been learned in the course into this assessment. The paper must be in current APA format; a title page and reference page must be included. The student must include references to at least 3 presentations from the course as well as references to 3–4 additional items from the Learn material to support all assertions.  (CLO D, E, F).

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned module: week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 multiple-choice questions, and have a 50-minute time limit.  (CLO A, B, C, D. E, F).