Addiction Studies Course

Lesson 1 • Historical and Cultural Perspectives

Traces addiction's evolving definition from moral failing to medical condition. Contextualises current treatment models within historical and cross-cultural frameworks.

Lesson 2 • Classification Systems and Diagnostic Tools

Covers major diagnostic classification systems and standardised screening instruments. Enables accurate identification and categorisation of addiction presentations.

Lesson 3 • Defining Addiction and Dependence

Clarifies distinctions between use, misuse, abuse, dependence, and addiction. Provides the conceptual vocabulary essential for all subsequent clinical and theoretical content.

Lesson 1 • Behavioural Addictions and the Brain

Compares neurobiological profiles of gambling, gaming, and other behavioural addictions to substance use disorders. Validates behavioural addiction as a neurobiological phenomenon.

Lesson 2 • Neuroadaptation and Tolerance

Examines how repeated exposure causes receptor downregulation and homeostatic shifts. Explains the neurological basis of tolerance and escalating use.

Lesson 3 • Withdrawal and Craving Mechanisms

Details the neurochemical basis of withdrawal syndromes and cue-induced craving. Links these mechanisms to relapse vulnerability and treatment targets.

Lesson 4 • Brain Reward Circuitry

Describes the mesolimbic dopamine system and its role in reinforcement. Connects reward pathway function to compulsive drug-seeking behaviour.

Lesson 1 • Hallucinogens, Inhalants, and Polysubstance Use

Reviews serotonergic hallucinogens, inhalant toxicity, and the complexity of polysubstance presentations. Prepares learners for diverse and overlapping clinical scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Stimulants and Cannabinoids

Compares dopaminergic stimulant mechanisms with cannabinoid receptor pharmacology. Addresses distinct addiction profiles and clinical presentations of each class.

Lesson 3 • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

Covers absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion principles relevant to addictive substances. Establishes the pharmacological foundation for understanding drug effects.

Lesson 4 • Opioids and Pain Pathways

Details mu-receptor agonism, analgesic use, and the opioid addiction cycle. Connects pharmacology to overdose recognition and reversal strategies.

Lesson 1 • Risk and Severity Assessment

Applies tools to assess overdose risk, withdrawal severity, and level-of-care needs. Connects severity findings to placement criteria and safety planning.

Lesson 2 • Validated Screening Instruments

Reviews psychometrically validated tools for alcohol, drugs, and behavioural addictions. Trains learners to select and administer instruments appropriate to the clinical context.

Lesson 3 • Comprehensive Clinical Interview

Structures a full biopsychosocial intake covering substance history, consequences, and strengths. Develops rapport-building and motivational interviewing-aligned questioning skills.

Lesson 4 • Clinical Formulation and Case Conceptualisation

Synthesises assessment data into a biopsychosocial formulation that guides treatment planning. Bridges assessment findings to individualised intervention selection.

Lesson 1 • Twelve-Step and Mutual Aid Models

Examines the structure, philosophy, and evidence base of twelve-step and alternative mutual aid programmes. Prepares learners to facilitate referrals and integrate peer support into care.

Lesson 2 • Contingency Management and Behavioural Therapies

Explains reinforcement-based interventions including contingency management and community reinforcement. Demonstrates how behavioural principles drive abstinence and prosocial behaviour.

Lesson 3 • Medications for Addiction Treatment

Reviews FDA-recognised medication classes for alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use disorders. Equips non-prescribers to support medication-assisted treatment and address client concerns.

Lesson 4 • Motivational Interviewing

Teaches the spirit, principles, and core skills of motivational interviewing for ambivalence resolution. Directly applicable to engagement and retention across all treatment settings.

Lesson 1 • Psychotic and Personality Disorders

Addresses the unique challenges of treating addiction alongside schizophrenia spectrum and personality disorders. Focuses on engagement strategies and modified treatment approaches.

Lesson 2 • Integrated Treatment Planning

Synthesises dual diagnosis assessment into a unified treatment plan addressing both conditions. Develops skills for coordinating across psychiatric, medical, and addiction services.

Lesson 3 • Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Covers assessment and treatment adaptation for depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety co-occurring with addiction. Addresses diagnostic complexity when substances mask or mimic symptoms.

Lesson 4 • Trauma and PTSD in Addiction

Examines the bidirectional relationship between trauma, PTSD, and substance use. Introduces trauma-informed and trauma-focused treatment adaptations.

Lesson 1 • Identifying and Managing Triggers

Trains clients to map internal and external triggers using functional analysis. Builds a personalised trigger management toolkit grounded in behavioural and cognitive strategies.

Lesson 2 • Relapse Prevention Theory

Presents Marlatt's cognitive-behavioural relapse prevention model and its empirical support. Frames relapse as a process with identifiable warning signs rather than a sudden event.

Lesson 3 • Recovery Capital and Support Networks

Introduces recovery capital theory covering personal, social, and community resources. Guides learners to assess and build client recovery capital systematically.

Lesson 4 • Long-Term Recovery Management

Applies a chronic care model to addiction, emphasising ongoing monitoring and stepped care. Prepares learners to support sustained recovery beyond acute treatment episodes.

Lesson 1 • Adolescents and Young Adults

Addresses developmental factors, screening adaptations, and age-appropriate interventions for youth. Covers consent, confidentiality, and family involvement considerations.

Lesson 2 • Cultural Responsiveness in Addiction Care

Develops cultural humility and adapts evidence-based practices to diverse cultural contexts. Addresses disparities in access, engagement, and treatment outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Older Adults and Addiction

Examines late-onset addiction, polypharmacy risks, and age-specific screening challenges. Adapts treatment approaches to cognitive, physical, and social changes of ageing.

Lesson 4 • Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals

Covers fetal effects of substance exposure, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and treatment during pregnancy. Emphasises harm reduction and non-punitive engagement strategies.