Week 4: Levels of Treatment and Intervention You might imagine that addiction professionals help clients who understand that they are addicted and who want help to overcome their addiction. However, addiction professionals often work with clients who do not want to be helped, which presents a unique set of challenges in intervention and treatment. These…

Discussion: Prevention Program As an addiction professional, you may contribute to social change in a variety of ways. For example, you may educate clients and families, engage in local community and political agendas to help those in need, and connect with other professionals in the field across the city, state, or nation. In addition, you…

Week 10: Prevention “Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions” (Obar, 2012).    The mission statement of Walden University speaks to the ability to transform students so that students can effect positive social…

Discussion: Definitions and Theoretical Models of Addiction The term addiction is used throughout this course to include both substance-use disorders (e.g., alcoholism, cocaine dependence) and behavioral disorders with addictive components (e.g., pathological gambling, sex addiction).   Addiction, whether to chemicals or behaviors, is part of a broad continuum (Doweiko, 2019). At one end of the…

Week 9: Addiction and Society You alone can do it, but you cannot do it alone.   —O. Hobart Mowrer, behavior therapy psychologist   Stan is a desperate twenty-three year-old sitting in his room alone, depressed, and contemplating suicide. He feels hopeless because his substance addiction is taking control of his life. He does not…

Discussion 2: Clinical Supervision Clinical supervision is not only needed in the early stages of a career, but is often beneficial if used throughout a career. It is important to understand that clinical supervision is a healthy aspect of clinical work and not an indication of lack of knowledge. No matter how good an addiction…

Week 7: Internal and External Consequences of Addiction Addiction is a chronic, predictable, progressive, and fatal illness. If left untreated, it will result in premature death.   —American Medical Association, 2012   John has been suffering from cocaine addiction for eight months and has lost all self-respect. He feels helpless and overwhelmed. Five months ago…

Discussion 2: External Consequences of Addiction Not all consequences of addiction are internal. In many cases, the consequences of addiction are external and highly visible. External consequences are those that are tangible, noticeable, behavioral in nature, and usually unable to be hidden by choice.   There is no single experience that causes people to seek…

Week 5: Relapse Prevention Relapses often occur for many reasons, and it is essential for addiction counselors to work with their client in creating an effective relapse prevention plan (Myers & Salt, 2013). Some causes of relapse are co-occurring disorders. It is important to provide clients with the steps they must go through to maintain…

Assignment: Process of Change to Motivate Clients to Seek Treatment Clients may experience several traumatic events before seeking treatment. It may take a near-death experience such as alcohol poisoning or a tragic car accident before someone realizes that they need help. Or perhaps it is a friend or family member who initiates treatment by making…