Chemical Dependency Studies

Emphasizes understanding addictions including historical and current implications of addiction as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act and social, cultural, political, and economic contexts of addiction. Introduction to basic pharmacology of alcohol/other drugs, assessment criteria, signs and symptoms of addiction and recovery efforts.

Introduction to the pharmacological action of drugs in the body including the human body’s physical and behavioral response to alcohol and other drugs; current research findings; basic information and terminology essential for working on addiction treatment teams and for communicating with patients and families.

Counselor skills training in screening, evaluation and referral for Substance Use Disorder patients. Focus is on duties of case managers such as service coordination, knowledge of community resources, documentation (including treatment planning, clinical/progress notes, discharge summaries, etc.). Introduction to ASAM assessment/placement, confidentiality and federal, state and agency policies.

Foundational information for the culturally diverse addicted populations including those with disabilities, as well as racial, ethnic, gender and sexual diversity and its implication for treatment. Looks at the effects of fear, prejudice and discrimination experienced by substance use disorder clients.

This course will focus on defining the relapse process, recognizing individual cues that can lead to relapse as well as devising plans for preventing relapse. Topics include understanding Post-Acute Withdrawal and it’s role in relapse and relapse prevention.

Focuses on the needs of adolescent assessment and treatment.  Emphasis on developmental, cognitive, and physiological issues that are complicated by an adolescent’s use of alcohol or other drugs. Includes using American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria for the assessment and placement of adolescents in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment.

Counseling theories and techniques for individual counseling of those with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) will be covered. Includes information on counseling techniques such as confrontation, feedback, summarizing, active listening and others. May also include information on theories used primarily in SUD treatment such as the Transtheoretical Model, Motivational Interviewing, etc.

Theoretical foundation of group counseling for Substance Use Disorder treatment. Use of groups in inpatient and outpatient treatment is discussed. Focuses on use of information in groups to foster change and growth, dynamics of group interaction/group composition, goal-setting, managing tasks, roles and normative boundaries, as well as skill practice.

Focus is on SUD counseling for families, significant others, parents, children, and other family, regarding common issues related to addicted family members. Topics include stages of adaptation, family roles, children of alcoholics as well as models of family therapy including overviews of structural, functional and systems approaches.

 This course focuses on legal and ethical issues in the field of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) counseling including legal & professional responsibilities, professional & peer relationships, state and federal rules & regulations including confidentiality and HIPPA regulations, boundaries, and the NADAAC code of ethics.

 Focuses on prevention of alcohol/other drug abuse at the community level. Discusses the history of prevention and addiction treatment methods, current research, community education and risk/protective factors, best/promising practices in the field of prevention. Includes information on violence prevention, bullying and cyberbullying related to substance use and violence.

An advanced course in diagnosing Substance Use Disorders and developing Individual Service Plans using assessment information to individualize the client's treatment goals. Students will practice prioritizing the patient's needs to be addressed in treatment and develop measurable treatment goals and objectives.

Course covers diagnosis, placement and treatment of substance use disorders. Topics include screening and assessment, use of ASAM placement criteria, treatment planning, documentation and overview of federal and state laws governing the patient in substance use disorder treatment.