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: SWK with Substance Abuse On-line Winter
Thomas E
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an, PhD, LICSW, LCDP, LCDS broffmant@easternct.edu
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k Program of Eastern Connecticut State University prepare effective
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promotion of so
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Course Description
Course Syllabus
SWK 344 is an examination of the causes, medical aspects, family dynamics,
cross-cultural issues and treatment modalities of alcohol and drug abuse. The course
is designed with both undergraduate social work students and human service
professionals in mind. This course is designed to provide students with the
fundamentals for understanding the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and a
comparative overview of prevailing treatment models. This information will encompass
policies for the treatment and control of alcohol and other drugs, an examination of
the epidemiology and basic pharmacology of substance use. The course emphasizes a
heterogeneous view of substance abuse and treatment, and is congruent with the
bio/psycho/social/spiritual model of social work practice utilizing a strengths
perspective.
Course Goal:
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letion of this course, each student will be able to:
• Understand the history and current status of the various definitions of substance
abuse and relevant policies
• To be knowledgeable about the predominant models for conceptualizing the use
and abuse of various legal and illegal substances
• Understand basic pharmacology of various drug groups, their respective risks and
consequences
• Have a working knowledge of the major substance abuse intervention approaches
• Be familiar with the variety of differences associated with the use of substances
covering a heterogeneous array of cultural backgrounds and differences by age,
gender, religious groups, and the co-occurrence of substance abuse with other
psychosocial disorders
•
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wledgeable about the Strengths Perspective to addiction treatment.
• Explore one’s own values about substance use and abuse, self-help and recovery
• Appreciate the importance of role, culture, and ethnicity in the assessment and
intervention with substance use problems
• Respect the importance of client self-determination in the use of social work
treatment strategies
• Have an acute awareness of the importance of client confidentiality in the context
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• Identify attitudinal barriers to working with persons with substance abuse problems
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