SWK 617 - Social Work Practice in the Field of Addictions Credits: 3

This elective course will focus on the topic of addictions, preparing students to recognize and intervene when clients and their families demonstrate addiction problems in a wide range of social service agencies and host settings, such as child welfare, mental health, aging, schools, healthcare, corrections, and drug and alcohol programs. The course will examine the evolving models of alcohol and chemical dependency to the present-day understanding of the disease model, including an examination of the neurobiology of addiction and basic pharmacology, including medication-assisted therapies. The concept of harm reduction is introduced. Using a case-studies approach, students will develop assessment and intervention skills.

Prerequisite(s): SWK 531 or SWK 601 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor