COURSE OVERVIEW:

Use and misuse of alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs cost Australians millions of dollars a year in increased health care costs, crime, and lost productivity. Every year, illicit and prescription drug overdoses cause more than two thousand deaths, alcohol contributes to the death of more than 6,000 Australians, while tobacco is linked to an estimated 21,000 deaths per year.

In this course drugs refer to alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs and prescription drugs.

Drug addiction is a complex neurobiological disorder that requires integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit. It is considered a brain disorder because drugs change the brain — they change its structure and how it works. Without treatment, these brain changes can be long-lasting. Addiction is chronic, it is progressive, and if left untreated, it can be fatal.

Individuals struggling with drug addiction often feel as though they cannot function normally without their drug of choice. This can lead to a wide range of issues that impact professional goals, personal relationships, and overall health. Over time, these serious side effects can be progressive, and if left untreated, fatal.

Any addiction is of serious concern. No one begins to take drugs or drink too much with the intention of becoming addicted, with the intention of developing serious health problems. But prolonged drug or alcohol use can have a serious impact upon a person’s health, both physical and psychologically. Addiction can undermine and even destroy relationships and families. It can destroy careers and have a substantial impact upon a person’s financial health.

For much of the past century, scientists studying drugs and drug use laboured in the shadows of powerful myths and misconceptions about the people with an addiction. When scientists began to study addictive behaviour in the 1930s, people with an addiction were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society’s responses to drug use, treating it as a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punishment rather than prevention and treatment.

Today, thanks to science, our views and our responses to addiction and the broader spectrum of substance use disorders have changed dramatically. Ground-breaking discoveries about the brain have revolutionised our understanding of compulsive drug use, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem.

Experts believe that increased understanding of the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives, adopt science-based policies and programs that reduce drug use and addiction in their communities, and support scientific research that improves the Nation’s well-being.

This course aims to help you understand why some people develop an addiction to drugs and how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug use, by providing scientific information about the disorder of drug addiction, including the many harmful consequences of drug use and the basic approaches that have been developed to prevent and treat substance use disorders.

The first part of this courses starts by explaining what drug addiction is and it’s causes. Then discusses why people take drugs and why some people become addicted to drugs, while others do not. Also, discusses the dangers of drug addiction. Then examines some methods to prevent drug misuse and addiction. Finally, explains how drugs work in the brain and which parts of the brain are affected by drug use.

The second part starts by explaining how drugs produce pleasure. Then discusses the health and mental consequences of drug addiction. Then discusses if addiction can be treated successfully or cured. Then examines the principles of effective treatment. Then explains how behavioural therapies treat drug addiction. Finally, answers a number of frequently asked questions about drug addiction.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is drug addiction?
• The causes of addiction
• How science has revolutionised the understanding of drug addiction?
• Why study drug use and addiction?
• How people of all ages suffer the harmful consequences of drug use and addiction?
• How does science provide solutions for drug use and addiction?
• Why do people take drugs?
• What’s the problem, if taking drugs makes people feel good or better?
• Do people choose to keep using drugs?
• Why do some people become addicted to drugs, while others do not?
• The risk and protective factors for drug use, misuse, and addiction
• What biological factors increase the risk of addiction?
• What environmental factors increase the risk of addiction?
• What other factors increase the risk of addiction?
• How the brain continues to develop into adulthood and undergoes dramatic changes during adolescence?
• How to prevent drug misuse and addiction?
• Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing drug addiction?
• Can evidence-based programs prevent drug addiction in youth?
• How do evidence-based prevention programs work?
• The school-based drug prevention program
• What does evidence-based mean?
• Are prevention programs effective in reducing drug abuse?
• How do the parts of the brain communicate?
• How do drugs work in the brain?
• What parts of the brain are affected by drug use?
• How do drugs produce pleasure?
• How does dopamine reinforce drug use?
• Why are drugs more addictive than natural rewards?
• How some drugs target the brain’s pleasure centre?
• How does long-term drug taking, affect brain circuits?
• What other brain changes occur with drug abuse?
• The dangers of drug addiction
• What are the other health consequences of drug addiction?
• Does drug use cause other mental disorders or vice versa?
• How can addiction harm other people?
• The negative effects of drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding
• The negative effects of second-hand smoke
• How addiction can increase the spread of infectious diseases?
• How addiction can increase risk of motor vehicle accidents?
• What are some effects of specific abused substances?
• Can addiction be treated successfully?
• Can addiction be cured?
• Does relapse to drug use mean treatment has failed?
• The comparison of relapse rates between substance use disorders and other chronic illnesses
• What are the principles of effective treatment?
• What medications and devices help treat drug addiction?
• How do behavioural therapies treat drug addiction?
• How do quality treatment programs help patients recover from addiction?
• Why do drug-addicted persons keep using drugs?
• How effective is drug addiction treatment?
• How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
• What helps people stay in treatment?
• How can family and friends make a difference in the life of someone needing treatment?
• How can the workplace play a role in substance abuse treatment?
• What are the unique needs of women with substance use disorders?
• What are the unique needs of pregnant women with substance use disorders?
• What are the unique needs of adolescents with substance use disorders?
• Are there specific drug addiction treatments for older adults?
• Can a person become addicted to medications prescribed by a doctor?
• Is there a difference between physical dependence and addiction?
• Is the use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine simply replacing one addiction with another?
• Can exercise play a role in the treatment process?

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.