The course utilizes material gleaned from empirical research, consensus “best practice” panels, guidelines propagated by the “Research to Practice” initiatives of the National Institute of Health, and current thinking in the field. It attempts to integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective treatment of substance abusers and utilizes a format in which review questions, exercises, and illustrative vignettes are integrated throughout. While some strategic review is provided at the outset of the content, the assumption is made that the reader possesses basic knowledge of alcohol and drug abuse and assessment.

Effective treatment of substance use disorders may occur in the individual or group session with a clinician, within treatment programs or community, or between the individual and his/her God; however, effective treatment always utilizes social supports. Therefore, the therapist must be prepared to adopt flexible roles as clinician, case manager, educator, advisor, supporter, and/or guide. Addiction is a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual affliction and must be confronted with an equally comprehensive response. This course is written to help prepare readers to do just that. Throughout both modules, the terms addicted clients, AOD clients, and substance abusing clients will be used interchangeably (although not with strict accuracy).

This course is designed specifically for Associate Social Workers (ASWs) and Marriage Family Interns (IMFs) who need the 15-hour California State Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) required Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency coursework for licensure. NASW California Chapter offers the following three modules that will meet the 15-hour requirement:

Module 1: Alcohol and Chemical Dependency - Critical Issues in Addiction, by Rena Palloff, LCSW, PhD

Module 1 discusses important topics including commonly used drugs, types of alcoholism, diagnosis and assessment of alcohol and substance dependence, the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASA) Criteria, family issues related to addiction and future treatment trends. Readers are provided with case studies in each major section so that they may apply the information to daily practice.

Module 2: Alcohol and Chemical Dependency - Strategic Review, Issues, and Evidence-Based Approaches, by Peter Manoleas, LCSW

Module 2 utilizes material gleaned from empirical research, consensus "best practice" panels, guidelines propagated by the "research to practice" initiatives of the National Institute of Health, and current thinking in the field. It attempts to integrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective treatment of substance abusers and includes review questions, exercises, and illustrative vignettes throughout the content.

Module 3: Alcohol and Chemical Dependency - Treatment Strategies Utilized with Various Client Populations, by Peter Manoleas, LCSW

This module is intended to build upon the material presented in the Module 2 by applying the principles and techniques to specific populations of substance-involved adults. The six groups that are examined in this module include African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Women, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals (LGBT). These groups were selected because as populations they represent groups with which some evidence-based work has been done.

As a result of taking this course, registrants should:

1. Understand the difference between treatment and recovery as well as the ideal relationship between the two.



2. Be familiar with factors affecting positive outcomes in the treatment of substance abusers and be able to translate these into a series of what to do and what not to do in the clinical setting.



3. Be familiar with the developmental model of recovery, the tasks faced by clients at each stage, and techniques for helping clients with these tasks.



4. Understand the role of motivational enhancement in the treatment and recovery process and learn techniques for enhancing client motivation.



5. Understand the role of relapse in recovery, be able to help clients identify relapse triggers, and help them develop effective strategies for dealing with these triggers.



6. Understand the principles of 12-Step groups, how they work, and be able to help clients to engage in these processes when appropriate.