Course Overview
Addiction is a treatable, chronic, relapsing brain disease that is the product of a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. The individual with addiction experiences compulsive, repetitive use of a substance, despite increasingly negative consequences and often despite a fervent desire to quit. The chronic nature of the disease manifests itself as a craving, which can be triggered weeks, months, or even years after use of a substance has ceased and may lead to relapse. The goal of this course is on understanding addiction to substances.
Learning Outcomes
- Define addiction.
- Describe the impact of addiction as a public health problem in the United States.
- Discuss the roles of nature and nurture in the future development of addictive behaviors.
- Discuss theories of brain function as they relate to addiction.
- Define cross-addiction.
- List pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options for addiction.