Addiction Studies

The Addiction Studies program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in alcohol and drug treatment programs and to provide continuing education for health care and human services professionals. The curriculum provides a broad base of knowledge regarding approaches to drug education and prevention, treatment issues, counseling skills, ethical issues, and practical knowledge about drugs and their effects.

Students will gain basic competencies in counseling, case management, record keeping, and treatment planning. The Addiction Studies program includes core courses in psychology, sociology, and counseling in order to provide students with a broad understanding of the roots of addiction. When combined with nine units of field experience, the Addiction Studies program meets the education requirements established by the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE).

Student Learning Outcomes for this major are:

• Correctly define and explain abuse, addiction and dependency as key concepts in the discipline.
• Explain the interaction between genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors in the causes of substance misuse problems.
• Describe the role of family dynamics in addiction and recovery and identify the characteristics of codependency within a family system.
• Describe the legal and ethical issues of chemical dependency counseling.
• Demonstrate effective counseling and group leadership skills.
• Appreciate multiculturalism as it relates to the field of addiction counseling.
• Apply principles of effective oral and written communication skills with clients, their families, and colleagues.

Gainful Employment Information (Addiction Studies)

Related Occupations: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors

To protect student confidentiality no information on "On Time Completion Rates" is reported in programs where fewer than 10 certificates were awarded in a school year.