Knowledge

By the end of the course, participants will have:

• A greater understanding of the issues surrounding addiction.
• A better understanding of the causes & effects of drug/alcohol use.
• A greater understanding of the various substances used.
• An understanding of drug terminology & street names.
• Increased knowledge of treatment models & theories.

• A better understanding of dealing with those with drug problems & those affected by another’s drug use.

Skills

By the end of the course participants will have been given the opportunity to:

• Explore dealing with behaviour they find difficult.
• Improve their ability to listen effectively & understand.
• Examine their ability to assess situations & therefore, intervene appropriately.

• Improve on their ability to help those affected by drug use to make effective decisions.

• Be aware of the choices for making appropriate referrals.

Attitudes

By the end of the course participants will have had the opportunity to:

• Have developed greater sensitivity.
• Be more accepting of other people with addiction problems.
• Be more aware & confident around drug/alcohol issues.
• Be more comfortable dealing with those affected by addiction.
• Be more aware of themselves.
• Be better able to cope with their own feelings.

Types of Addiction

• Definitions & concepts of Addiction.
• Information on types & impact of drug Addiction, including Inhalants, Depressants, Sedatives.

• Alcohol, Stimulants, Amphetamines, ‘Club/Recreational’ Drugs, Hallucinogens, Opiates & Sport Drugs.

• Street names & terminology.
• The drug scene today.

Theories of Addiction

Focussing on the major Theories & Models of Addiction:

• The Moral model
• The Psychological Model: Psychoanalytic, Behavioural, Cognitive

• The Medical/Disease Model: Genetic, Addictive Personality, Allergy, Illness & Biological

• The Socio-Cultural Model: Modelling, National & Cultural Conditions & Family Systems Theory

Addiction Apartments

• Pharmacotherapy: Antabuse, Ibogaine, Methadone & Detox-5
• The Minneosta Model: 12 Step & Alcoholics Anonymous
• Counselling & Therapy: Motivational Interviewing & Reality Therapy
• Harm Reduction Model
• Treatments in practice

Addiction in Society

• Drug policies, legalisation & de– criminalisation
• ICommunity change, Outreach, Harm Reduction or Abstinence
• Alcohol & drug education
• Alcohol & drug-related issues in the workplace

Addiction in Families

• Co-dependency, children of alcoholic families, parenting styles, & family factors
• Relapse for families, ‘letting go’, dependent attitudes & dependent behaviours
• Al-Anon
• The intervention approach

Working with Addiction

• Why be a helper, motives & attitudes
• Helper qualities & attitudes
• The art of accepting
• Counselling/helping skills. Helping the helpers