PSY 538 - Substance Abuse and Dependence

• Describe the incidence and prevalence of chemical dependency among diverse groups in the United States.
• Identify various behavioral symptoms associated with the use of stimulants, sedatives, hypnotics, inhalants, narcotics, hallucinogens, steroids, and psychotropic medicines.
• Identify family, sociological, and cultural factors associated with substance abuse and dependence.
• Identify the various health-related consequences associated with substance abuse and dependence.
• Describe the potential strengths and limitations of different approaches to defining and assessing substance abuse and dependence as well as “codependency.”
• Explain major theories about the etiology of substance abuse and dependence.
• List and explain hypothesized effects of the substance dependent family system on the behavior and emotional experience of individual family members.
• Describe major concepts in the family systems view of substance abuse and dependence.
• Describe the relative advantages and disadvantages of providing substance abuse treatment within the context of the family system.
• Identify major sources for empirically-based information about the diagnosis and treatment of individuals and families affected by substance dependence.
• Compare and contrast current models of intervention and treatment as well as common therapeutic techniques.
• Describe criteria for evaluating the efficacy of a wide variety of interventions for substance abuse and dependence.
• Identify their own preconceived ideas or biases as well as their current beliefs about the assessment and treatment of substance dependence.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical and empirical literature regarding a specific topic (e.g., motivational interviewing) within the field of substance abuse and dependence.
• Develop an individual prevention, intervention or empirical research proposal grounded in a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the specific substance abuse-related topic of interest to them.
• Summarize their perspective on the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse and dependence.