SSSW_ACSW100: Addiction Fundamentals (Professional)

This course includes an overview of:

• Popular perceptions and mythology commonly associated with Addiction
• Addiction culture and its impact on individuals, family, community, society
• Economic activity in the context of disadvantaged target populations
• Assessment and intervention strategies and treatment options will be introduced.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
● Understand the history, philosophy, and trends in addiction counselling.
● Discuss the histories of the following substances: alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, opioids,
amphetamines, hallucinogens, tobacco, and caffeine.
● Describe accepted models and theories of addiction and accept prevention and treatment
strategies.
● Describe the various assessment instruments and structured clinical interview techniques
available.
● Discuss the societal costs of use, abuse, and dependency.

● Describe the ethical and legal considerations related to the role of the addiction support
worker.
● Describe the roles, functions, and settings of addiction and community support worker, as
well as the relationship between addiction counsellors and other mental health professionals.
● Understand the factors that increase the likelihood for a person, community, or group to be at
risk for substance.
● Describe how abusive substances affect the brain and central nervous system.
● Describe the effects that must be considered in detoxification, treatment, and aftercare
planning.