Substance Abuse and Dependency (Pre-Licensure Course) (15 CE)

Course Level: Intermediate

Course By: Alden Hori, PhD

Dr. Hori earned a PhD in psychology from the University of California at Riverside. He was an Associate-In Professor and Research Assistant at the University of California at Riverside, where he supervised the completion of over 50 research projects in psychology. He is credited with three publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Course Delivery: Textbooks, Online, Self-Paced

This course meets the Substance Abuse and Dependency pre-licensing requirements for Counselors, LCSWs and MFTs in California.  This course is not approved for Psychologists in California as the Board of Psychologist  requires 15 hours be taken from an accrredited or approved educational institution.  

Part A Course Description:This portion of the course seeks to enhance the confidence and skill of psychotherapists and other practitioners in addressing alcohol and drug use in the context of their ongoing work. The authors review the etiology of drug dependence and different methods of assessment, the range of treatment approaches and the types of patients appropriate for them, and relapse prevention. The course includes new material on individual psychotherapy and family therapy for clients with AOD problems, as well as an updated overview of the treatment community (both self-help and professional) that examines the basic assumptions and operating principles of various treatment venues in an effort to minimize the miscommunication that can occur when professionals from different cultures attempt to collaborate on client care..

Learning Objectives:

1. Contrast various models and theories of addiction
2. Summarize the main issues related to the assessment of substance use
3. Examine major models of treatment, key intervention activities, sources of information evaluating the effectiveness of the model, and the strengths and limits of each model
4. Delineate the role of the private practitioner in addressing addiction issues
5. Assess how the therapist can support the family through the recovery process
6. Summarize the various forms of groups in addiction treatment and discuss their commonalties and differences
7. Examine the key issues related to relapse prevention

Part B Course Description:This portion of the course includes the most recent discoveries about drugs, including new information on the energy-drinks craze, prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Ambien, the date-rape drug GHB, and the unique effects of some drugs on the adolescent brain. Scientifically accurate and easy to read, this course gives balanced, objective information on the most often used and abused drugs, from alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine to heroin, Ecstasy, and methamphetamine, and it provides a clear understanding of how drugs work and the consequences of their use.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain knowledge of the origins and administration process of each class of drugs
2. Evaluate the effect of each drug on the brain and other systems in the body, and the associated psychological symptoms
3. Evaluate the social impact of the use of each class of drug
4. Gain knowledge of brain physiology and how it is impacted by drug use
5. Evaluate the legal issues related to drug use

Course Format:

Upon registration, two course textbooks (Treating Patients With Alcohol and Other Drug Problems: An Integrated Approach, Margolis, R. , Zweben, J.; Buzzed, Kuhn, C., Swatzwelder, S.) will be shipped to you. The cost of shipping within the U.S. is included in the course fee. For shipping outside the U.S., please call for costs. To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete a multiple-choice post-test with a score of 75% or better and complete a course evaluation. 

Approvals: