Addiction Nursing Course

Lesson 1 • Epidemiology and Public Health Context

Presents prevalence data, demographic trends, and social determinants of addiction. Contextualises individual patient care within population-level patterns.

Lesson 2 • Ethical and Legal Frameworks

Addresses confidentiality regulations, mandatory reporting duties, and patient rights. Prepares nurses to navigate ethical dilemmas in addiction care settings.

Lesson 3 • Pharmacology of Addictive Substances

Covers mechanisms of action for major substance classes. Enables nurses to anticipate intoxication and withdrawal presentations.

Lesson 4 • Neurobiology of Addiction

Explains reward pathway dysregulation, dopamine signalling, and neuroplasticity. Links brain changes to observable patient behaviours and cravings.

Lesson 1 • Biopsychosocial Assessment

Structures a comprehensive intake covering medical, psychological, and social domains. Integrates findings into a unified clinical picture for treatment planning.

Lesson 2 • Screening Tools and Techniques

Introduces validated brief screening instruments for alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Teaches administration, scoring, and appropriate clinical follow-up.

Lesson 3 • Documentation and Clinical Communication

Establishes standards for recording assessment findings accurately and concisely. Supports interdisciplinary communication and continuity of care.

Lesson 4 • Withdrawal Severity Assessment

Teaches use of standardised scales to quantify withdrawal risk and severity. Guides safe triage and level-of-care decisions for detoxification.

Lesson 1 • Sedative and Stimulant Withdrawal

Addresses benzodiazepine and stimulant withdrawal presentations and management. Highlights unique risks such as protracted withdrawal and cardiac monitoring needs.

Lesson 2 • Patient Safety and Monitoring Protocols

Establishes structured monitoring schedules and safety checks during detoxification. Ensures consistent, documented observation across all shifts.

Lesson 3 • Medical Complications During Detox

Identifies life-threatening complications requiring rapid nursing intervention. Builds clinical judgement for escalation and emergency response.

Lesson 4 • Alcohol Withdrawal Management

Covers the clinical spectrum from mild tremor to delirium tremens and seizures. Applies symptom-triggered and fixed-schedule pharmacotherapy protocols.

Lesson 1 • Nicotine Replacement and Cessation Aids

Presents nicotine replacement therapy forms, varenicline, and bupropion for cessation. Guides nurses in selecting and monitoring cessation pharmacotherapy.

Lesson 2 • Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Covers buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone pharmacology and clinical protocols. Addresses induction, maintenance, and patient adherence strategies.

Lesson 3 • Medication Safety and Patient Education

Addresses safe storage, diversion prevention, and patient teaching for all addiction medications. Reinforces the nurse's role in promoting medication literacy.

Lesson 4 • Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

Reviews naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram mechanisms and patient selection. Teaches monitoring for adverse effects and patient counselling points.

Lesson 1 • Psychotic and Bipolar Disorders

Addresses management of psychosis and bipolar disorder in substance-using patients. Covers medication interactions and mood stabilisation in the context of addiction.

Lesson 2 • Depression and Anxiety in Addiction

Identifies presentations of depression and anxiety disorders alongside substance use. Guides nurses in monitoring, medication considerations, and therapeutic support.

Lesson 3 • Prevalence and Diagnostic Complexity

Examines high rates of co-occurrence and challenges in differential diagnosis. Establishes why integrated treatment outperforms sequential or parallel approaches.

Lesson 4 • Trauma and PTSD in Addiction Care

Connects trauma history to substance use initiation and relapse. Introduces trauma-informed care principles and safe screening practices.

Lesson 1 • Cognitive-Behavioural Approaches

Applies CBT principles to identify triggers, distorted thinking, and coping deficits. Nurses guide patients in building practical skills to manage cravings.

Lesson 2 • Brief Intervention Techniques

Introduces structured brief interventions for use in medical and community settings. Connects screening results to targeted, time-efficient counselling responses.

Lesson 3 • Group and Family Involvement

Explores the nurse's role in facilitating psychoeducational groups and family sessions. Addresses family dynamics, enabling behaviours, and recovery support systems.

Lesson 4 • Relapse Prevention Planning

Builds individualised relapse prevention plans using evidence-based frameworks. Prepares patients to recognise warning signs and activate coping responses.

Lesson 1 • Pregnant and Postpartum Patients

Covers neonatal abstinence syndrome, medication safety in pregnancy, and perinatal care. Addresses stigma reduction and retention in prenatal addiction treatment.

Lesson 2 • Justice-Involved and Homeless Populations

Addresses addiction care in correctional settings and for patients experiencing homelessness. Focuses on harm reduction, reentry planning, and community linkage.

Lesson 3 • Older Adults with Substance Use Disorders

Identifies age-related pharmacokinetic changes and atypical presentation of addiction. Adapts screening tools and treatment plans for geriatric patients.

Lesson 4 • Adolescents and Young Adults

Addresses developmental vulnerabilities, screening adaptations, and age-appropriate interventions. Covers confidentiality considerations and family engagement strategies.

Lesson 1 • Wellness and Quality of Life in Recovery

Promotes physical, emotional, and social wellness as pillars of sustained recovery. Nurses integrate wellness planning into discharge and continuing care.

Lesson 2 • Relapse Response and Crisis Management

Prepares nurses to respond therapeutically to relapse without punitive framing. Covers crisis de-escalation, safety planning, and rapid re-engagement strategies.

Lesson 3 • Mutual Aid and Peer Support

Reviews evidence for twelve-step, SMART Recovery, and peer support programmes. Guides nurses in facilitating referrals and integrating peer support into care plans.

Lesson 4 • Long-Term Monitoring and Follow-Up

Establishes protocols for ongoing monitoring of recovery progress and medication adherence. Uses outcome measures to guide care adjustments over time.