Course Description
This course uses the social work person-in-environment perspective and the feminist perspective to understand the diverse conceptual frameworks that help guide addiction treatment for individuals, families, and groups, with particular attention to the influence of diversity, including gender roles and biological sex, race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and trauma in vulnerability to substance abuse and related problems.
Athena Title
Substance Use Treatment
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in SOWK 7220E
Pre or Corequisite
SOWK 7112 or SOWK 7112E or SOWK 7118 or SOWK 7118E or SOWK 7115 or SOWK 7125 or SOWK 7113 or SOWK 7120 or permission of school
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the conclusion of this course, students are expected to be able to: • Demonstrate a general understanding of neurobiological, social, and psychological forces in the development and maintenance of addiction. • Demonstrate a specific understanding of biological sex and oppressive gender socialization influences on initiation of substance use and development of addiction disorders among women and girls. • Describe the evolution of substance abuse treatment and identify social forces that influence provision of services. • Demonstrate understanding of the continuum of treatment and the critical role of screening, assessment, counseling, referral, and case management. • Demonstrate an understanding of gender differences in treatment utilization, treatment mandates, and social support for treatment from the social justice lens. • Demonstrate an understanding of at least two evidence- based treatment models and how they can be used with different populations. • Critically examine research literature and practice models for appropriate application in treating diverse groups, including racial minorities and LGBT populations. • Describe the impact of parental substance abuse and addiction on children and the risk and resilience factors that influence their vulnerability. • Understand the interaction of co-occurring problems of domestic violence, substance abuse, and poverty and implications for service delivery.
Topical Outline
• Evolution of Substance Abuse Policy and Treatment • Why “Gender Issues” in Substance Abuse Treatment? • Screening and Assessment of Substance Abuse • Evidence-based Treatment: Motivational Interviewing • Brief Interventions for Substance Abuse • Behavioral Couple Therapy • Harm Reduction Therapy and Prevention of Harm • Diversity Issues and Substance Use: Working with Adolescents and Older Women • Diversity Issues and Substance Use: Race/Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation • Substance Abuse and Other Traumas
Syllabus