Addiction Studies

Definitions of alcohol and other drug use and abuse; alcoholism and other addictions; history and types of chemical dependency; impact on individual, family, and society. (E)

Physical effects of alcohol and other drugs on the body. Designed to meet primary certification requirements for chemical dependency counseling.

Familiarization with skills commonly used for individual and family counseling. Includes attending, paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, summarizing, probing, self-disclosure, interpreting, and confrontation.

Introduction of objective team approach to confronting denial and presenting reality to chemically dependent, emphasizing skills commonly used for Johnson model intervention. Offered for continuing professional education. Required for ongoing counselor certification.

Exploration of dynamics of chemically dependent family during addiction and recovery. Includes therapy models useful in supporting individuals through recovery process and for restoring relationships within family.

Familiarization with symptoms, warning signs, and high-risk factors involved in relapse process, with emphasis on recovery, family-of-origin issues, relationships, self-care, and interdependence.

Theory and therapy models common to rehabilitation of chemically dependent through group process.

Facts about alcohol and other drug use and abuse and skills to impart these facts in a counseling environment. Includes physical effects and behavioral attitudes, family systems, health and safety, drinking and driving, treatment resources, and responsible decision making. Offered for continuing professional education; highly recommended as an elective.

Chemical dependency case management and record keeping. Provides working knowledge of a system for up-to-date, accurate, and usable case files and records.

Learn identifying signs and symptoms of teenage substance abuse, appropriate intervention, family dynamics, defense mechanisms and emotional honesty, treatment facilities, aftercare, and family’s progress toward health.

Understand State of Washington court procedures and laws pertaining to alcohol and drugrelated offenses, domestic violence, incapacitated persons and involuntary commitment, and deferred prosecution.

Principles and rules of conduct of ethical standards essential for CD profession, including nondiscrimination, responsibility, competence, legal and moral standards, client welfare, confidentiality, client relationships, and interprofessional conduct.

Knowledge and strategies needed to become more culturally sensitive. Focuses on integration of cultural competence in an AOD curriculum and development of effective prevention messages and treatment modalities within a cultural context while identifying ethnically challenging issues.

Education about HIV/AIDS, focusing on prevention, transmission of virus, health, community, and self-awareness.

Five credits awarded to students presenting documentation of 250 hours of supervised counseling training with agency approved by Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. Students must complete 2,500 total hours of supervised counseling training to obtain professional qualifications to practice as chemical dependency counselors.

A comprehensive overview of assessment and treatment of the pathological gambler. Gambling specialist awareness addressed; also a focus on other addictions and compulsive behaviors.

Emphasis on learning to deal with issues specific to the counselor’s personal challenges. Offered for continuing professional education. Recommended for ongoing counselor certification.

Familiarizes chemical dependency counselors with language and basic concepts of mental health disorders as they present in the dually diagnosed patient. Provides opportunity to assess and plan interventions for such patients involving introduction to motivational interviewing.

Exploration/emphasis on the application of the ASAM criteria in chemical dependency case management and record keeping.

This class teaches students about medical complications of substance abuse including alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, cannabis and benzodiazepines. Class emphasizes addiction, overdose and withdrawal and how chemicals affect the body.