This guide is designed for students preparing for or advancing in a career as an addiction counselor. This guide will show you how to search a database, write a citation, and provide you with resources related to public health issues regarding abuse and addiction.

Students will explore key topic areas in the addictions field such as: models and theories of addiction and recovery; history of legislation and regulation; self-help and evidenced-based approaches to recovery. This course provides a comprehensive overview of public health problems related to substance misuse, abuse and dependence. Study areas include trends in substance use, co-occurring disorders, process addictions, relevant national drug policies, the role of the media, HIV/AIDS and other contagions, domestic violence, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and costs to society. Students will be introduced to the prevention, harm reduction, and treatment continuum and its application to a public health model.