ADDICTION SPECIFIC TRAINING

CACCF APPROVED
10 CORE HOURS 

Drug Classes & The Brain

Recovery Works has developed a 9 session course with a 25 question multiple choice exam as the student testing component. Our aim is to provide counsellors in need of hours to gain CEU’s to certify or re-certify.

GOAL OF COURSE

This course will outline the different drug classes. The course outlines the effects of substance use, abuse and addiction on the brain. This course will also exam the latest brain research and how addiction is being considered a brain disease.

CACCF APPROVED 10 HOURS-CORE ADDICTION

From the Standards and Certifications Manual, this course is directed toward providing knowledge for the counsellor in the area of 4.1 Knowledge Expected of the Certified Counsellor.

This course is specifically targeting the areas of section C., Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Including Pharmacological Factors, Sections 1 through 6, listed below:

1. Knowledge of the effects of depressants, stimulants, narcotics, inhalants,hallucinogens, marijuana, over-the-counter drugs and anti-depressants on the body, both psychological and physiological effects.

2. Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of the above chemicals as they manifest themselves in the following situations and how such awareness serves to effect treatment planning:

a.) Use, misuse and abuse: to recognize when a person is taking the above chemicals appropriately and inappropriately;

b.) Dependence/addiction: to identify when a person is physically and/or psychologically dependent on the above chemicals and to know the appropriate treatment interventions;

c.) Withdrawal: to recognize when a person is exhibiting signs of withdrawal from the above substances and to be able to indicate safe and appropriate methods of withdrawal; 

d.) Overdose/toxicity: to identify when a person has taken an excessive amount of drugs that may endanger his/her health and/or life; to know the signs, symptoms and appropriate treatment approaches for an overdose of the above substances.

3. Knowledge of the effects of alcohol and other drug use, misuse and abuse in relation to the following: individual body chemistry, gender, age, pregnancy, other medical problems, other diagnosis, setting, dose, drug combinations, routes of administration, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.

4. Knowledge that alcohol and other drug-related psychological, physical and other medical problems may exist (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome, organic brain syndrome, AIDS, drug-induced psychosis, etc.) and the recognition of their signs and symptoms, indicating a need for additional medical, psychological and social assessment.

5. An understanding of complications resulting from the use of more than one mood/mind altering drug including cross tolerance, potentiation and multiple psychological and physiological dependence.

6. An awareness of the dynamics of the addiction process including the physiological mechanisms, genetics/heredity factors and the disease process of addiction as it affects the bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of a client’s life.

 
SESSION OUTLINE

1. Introduction to the course

2. The substance use continuum

3. Alcohol

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

4. Amphetamines

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

5. Cocaine

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

6. Opioids

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

7. Cannabis

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

8. Tranquilizers

a. Impact
b. Signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction
c. Withdrawal symptoms

9. Substance abuse and the brain

a.Examining the research the exists identifying addiction as a brain disease

10. Student testing component. 25 multiple choice questions