After completing this course, you will be able to:
Alcohol: What You Don't Know Can Harm You
Describe the consequences of drinking in terms of ability to drive, interactions with medicines, interpersonal problems, alcohol-related birth defects, and long-term health problems.
List signs and symptoms of alcohol use and intoxication, and withdrawal.
Epidemiology of Alcoholism
Compile and analyze the information gathered from epidemiology studies of alcoholism.
Screening for Alcoholism
Distinguish between two types of alcoholism-screening instruments and describe the application and effectiveness of various tests in detecting alcoholism.
Moderate Drinking
Define moderate drinking
Explain to the patient risks and benefits of moderate drinking
Alcohol and Women
Compare and contrast the impact of gender in the prevalence, cause and effects of alcohol abuse.
Describe how alcohol affects women differently than men physiologically and psychologically.
Are Women More Vulnerable to Alcohol's Effects?
Explain why women are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol.
Identify the consequences of alcohol use on women in terms of liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, breast cancer, violent victimization and traffic crashes.
List 3 major risk factors for women's alcohol use.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
List the three criteria that define fetal alcohol syndrome.
Formulate a recommendation for pregnant women on the use of alcohol during pregnancy.
Children of Alcoholics: Are they Different?
List the negative consequences in terms of cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems in the children of alcoholics.
Alcohol and Minorities
Explain the genetic influence of "flushing" on certain minority groups that helps them from becoming alcoholic.
Alcohol and the Workplace
List 5 factors that contribute to employee drinking in the workplace.
Describe alcohol-related job performance problems caused by on-the-job drinking and drinking outside of work.
Articulate strategies to prevent and manage alcohol problems in the workplace.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Explain the co-occurrence of alcoholism and smoking.
Outline addictions treatment for smoking alcoholics.
Alcoholism and Co-occurring Disorders
Identify 5 ways in which alcoholism and other disorders might be related.
Discuss medical conditions and psychiatric disorders that are comorbid with alcoholism.
Alcohol and Coronary Heart Disease
Discuss the epidemiologic and clinical evidence between moderate alcoholic consumption and lower risk for CHD.
Discuss whether the role played by alcohol on lowering the risk for CHD is causal or incidental.
Alcohol and the Liver
Identify factors that influence vulnerability to alcohol-induced liver damage.
Explain how alcohol damages the liver
Discuss the three alcohol-induced liver conditions: fatty liver, alcohol hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
Describe the damage to the liver as a result of alcoholism, extent of the problem, factors that play a part in causing the damage to the liver, and the treatment.
Alcohol and Cancer
Explain the association between alcohol consumption and development of certain types of cancer.
Alcohol and AIDS
Explain the connection between alcohol, HIV infection and AIDS.
Alcohol and Tolerance
Distinguish between functional and metabolic tolerance.
Describe different types of functional tolerances and the factors influencing their development.
Compare and contrast among acute tolerance, environment-dependent tolerance, learned tolerance and environment-independent tolerance.
Alcohol and Cognition
List the reasons for neuropsychological impairment in alcoholics.
Describe the effects of alcohol on cognition.
Alcohol and Stress
Explain the connection between alcohol and stress.
Answer questions: Does stress influence drinking? Does drinking reduce or induce stress?
Alcohol and Sleep
Summarize some basic features of normal sleep including sleep structure, onset and arousal.
Elaborate on the effect of alcohol on sleep in those without alcoholism and in those with alcoholism.
Make the connection between alcohol and breathing disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Alcohol and Aging
Describe the drinking prevalence and patterns among the elderly.
List the combined effects of alcohol and aging and prescribe the treatment of alcoholism in the elderly.
Drug Awareness Quiz
Answer some common questions about drugs, drug abuse and associated adverse physical and mental effects.
Conduct a self-test for cocaine addiction.
List 38 tell-tale signs of drug abuse.
Drug Use in America
Describe the trends and prevalence of drug use in America.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs in the Workplace
Describe the prevalence of ATOD in the workplace.
List 6 signs that may indicate substance abuse in the workplace.
List 3 steps one can take to reduce substance abuse in the workplace.
Sex, Violence and Domestic Violence
Describe the interconnection between risky sexual behavior, violence and crime and domestic violence and alcohol and other drugs.
Cocaine Abuse and Addiction
Describe the scope of cocaine use in the United States.
Explain the mechanism through which cocaine affects deep structures in the brain.
Indicate the short-term and long-term effects of cocaine use.
Describe the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and gastrointestinal complications of cocaine abuse.
Describe the pharmacological and behavioral treatments for cocaine abusers.
Heroin Abuse in the United States
Describe the prevalence and patterns of heroine use in the United States.
Dangerous Drugs
Describe the pharmacology and use of methamphetamine, marijuana, LSD, MDMA (Ecstasty), PCP, Ketamine, GHB, methylphenidate, steroids, flunitrazepam and inhalants.
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment
Enunciate 13 principles of effective drug addiction treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer several frequently asked questions about drug addiction treatment and its effectiveness.
Drug Addiction Treatment in the Unites States
Describe general categories of drug addiction treatment programs and list their characteristics, treatment approach and target population.
Scientifically Based Approach to Drug Addiction Treatment
List various scientifically based approaches to drug addiction treatment and elaborate on their main components, particularly relapse prevention, supportive-expressive psychotherapy, individualized drug counseling, motivational enhancement therapy, behavioral therapy for adolescents, multidimensional family therapy for adolescents, multisystemic therapy, combined behavioral and nicotine replacement therapy for nicotine addiction, community reinforcement approach plus vouchers, voucher-based reinforcement therapy in methadone treatment, day treatment with abstinence contingencies and vouchers and the matrix model.
Rate and Duration of Drug Activity
Describe the roles played by the rate and duration of drug activity in drug abuse addiction and treatment.
Explain how the method of drug administration influences the rate of action.
Treatment Methods for Women
List the consequences of drug use for women.
Explain why many drug-using women do not seek treatment.
Lessons from Prevention Research
Identify "protective factors" and "risk factors" that should be incorporated in drug abuse prevention programs.
Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Treatment
Describe the application of four common types of drug abuse treatment: outpatient methadone programs, long-term residential programs, outpatient drug-free programs and short-term inpatient programs.
Brief Intervention for Alcohol Problems
Describe the brief intervention treatment programs for alcohol problems, and its effectiveness for non-alcohol-dependent and alcohol-dependent patients.
List 9 common elements of brief intervention treatment for alcohol problems.
Evaluation of Individual Objectives
To assess the effectiveness of the course material, we ask that you evaluate your achievement of each learning objective on a scale of A to D (A=excellent, B=good, C=fair, D=unsatisfactory). Please indicate your responses next to each learning objective and return it to us with your completed exam.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol: What You Don’t Know Can Harm You
Drinking and Driving
Interactions With Medications
Interpersonal Problems
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects
Long-Term Health Problems
Research Directions
Resources
Epidemiology of Alcoholism
Alcohol Use and Abuse: Where Do the Numbers Come From?
Conclusion
References
Screening for Alcoholism
Alcoholism-Screening Instruments
Conclusion
References
Moderate Drinking
Definition of Moderate Drinking
Benefits of Moderate Drinking
Risks of Moderate Drinking
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Women
Conclusion
References
Are Women More Vulnerable to Alcohol's Effects?
Prevalence of Women's Drinking
Metabolism
Consequences of Alcohol Use
Risk Factors for Women's Alcohol Use
Conclusion
References
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Conclusion
References
Children of Alcoholics
Children of Alcoholics: Important Facts Alcoholism affects the entire family
Many people report being exposed to alcoholism in their families
There is strong evidence that alcoholism tends to run in families
Children of alcoholics are more at risk
for alcoholism and other
drug abuse than children of non-alcoholics
Alcoholism usually has strong negative effects on marital relationships
Alcoholism is associated with a
substantial proportion of human violence,
and perpetrators are often under the influence of
alcohol
Based on clinical observations and preliminary research, a relationship between parental alcoholism and child abuse is indicated in a large proportion of child abuse cases
Children of alcoholics exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety more than children of non-alcoholics
Children of alcoholics experience greater physical and mental health problems and higher health care costs than children from non-alcoholic families
Children of alcoholics score lower on tests measuring verbal ability
Children of alcoholics often have difficulties in school
Children of alcoholics have greater difficulty with abstraction and conceptual reasoning
Children of alcoholics may benefit from adult efforts
Children can be protected from many problems associated with growing up in an alcoholic family
Maternal alcohol consumption during any time of pregnancy can cause alcohol-related birth defects or alcohol-related neurological deficits
COA Resources Information
Children of Alcoholics: Are They Different?
References
Alcohol and Minorities
Medical Consequences and Alcohol-Related Trauma
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Genetic Influences
Influence of Acculturation
Identification and Treatment
Prevention
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and the Workplace
Factors Contributing to Employee Drinking
Effects of Employee Drinking
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Tobacco
The Co-occurrence of Alcoholism and Smoking
Why Are Alcohol and Tobacco Used Together?
What Is the Risk of Cancer From Alcohol and Tobacco?
How Do Alcohol and Tobacco Increase
Cancer Risk?
Addictions Treatment for Smoking Alcoholics
Conclusion
References
Alcoholism and Co-occurring Disorders
Medical Conditions
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Coronary Heart Disease
Epidemiologic Evidence
Is Alcohol's Role Casual or Incidental?
The Role of Beverage Choice
How Might Alcohol Lower Risk for CHD
Risk and Benefits
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and the Liver
The Normal Liver
Alcoholic Liver Disease
Extent of the Problem
How Does Alcohol Damage the Liver
Factors That Influence Vulnerability to ALD
Treatment Effectiveness
Prospects for Future Treatment
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Cancer
What Is Cancer?
Alcohol's Link to Cancer
Epidemiologic Research
Mechanisms of Alcohol-Related Cancers
Summary
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and AIDS
Alcohol and the Immune System
Alcohol and Sexual Behavior
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Tolerance
Functional Tolerance
Metabolic Tolerance
Tolerance and the Predisposition to Alcoholism
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Cognition
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Stress
The Stress Response
Does Stress Influence Drinking?
Does Drinking Reduce or Induce Stress?
Stress, Alcoholism, and Relapse
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Sleep
Sleep Structure, Onset, and Arousal
Alcohol and Sleep in Those Without Alcoholism
Alcohol and Breathing Disorders
Age-Related Effects and the Impact of Drinking
Effects of Alcohol on Sleep in Those With Alcoholism
Conclusion
References
Alcohol and Aging
Drinking Prevalence and Patterns Among the Elderly
Combined Effects of Alcohol and Aging
Does Aging Increase Sensitivity to Alcohol?
Aging, Alcohol, and the Brain
Treatment of Alcoholism in the Elderly
Conclusion
References
Drug Abuse
Drug Awareness Quiz
Answers to the Drug Awareness Quiz
A Self-Test for Cocaine Addiction
Tell-Tale Signs of Drug Abuse
Drug Use in America
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs in the Workplace
Why Worry About Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace
What is substance abuse?
Does it threaten jobs?
What are the signs of abuse?
How can it be prevented?
What can you do?
Substance Abuse Prevention In the Workplace
Sex Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Violence and Crime & Alcohol and Other Drugs
Domestic Violence & Alcohol and Other Drugs
Cocaine Abuse and Addiction
What is cocaine?
What is crack?
What is the scope of cocaine use in the United States?
How is cocaine used?
How does cocaine produce effects?
What are the short-term effects of cocaine use?
What are the long-term effects of cocaine use?
What are the medical complications of cocaine abuse?
Are cocaine abusers at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C?
What is the effect of maternal cocaine use?
What treatments are effective for cocaine abusers?
Where can I get further scientific information about cocaine addiction?
Glossary
References
Heroin Abuse in the United States
Description of Heroin and Effects of Use
Prevalence of Heroin Use
Characteristics of Heroin Users
Patterns of Use
Trends in Heroin Use
References
Methamphetamine
Pharmacology
Use
Marijuana
Pharmacology Use
Availability
Dangerous Drugs
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Ketamine
Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
Methylphenidate (Ritalin®)
Steroids
Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol®)
Inhalants
Resources
Drug Addiction Treatment
Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment
Preface
Principles of Effective Treatment
Reviewers
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is drug addiction treatment?
Why can't drug addicts quit on their own?
How effective is drug addiction treatment?
How long does drug addiction treatment usually last?
What helps people stay in treatment?
Is the use of medications like methadone simply replacing one drug addiction with another?
What role can the criminal justice system play in the treatment of drug addiction?
How does drug addiction treatment help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases?
Where do -step or self-help programs fit into drug addiction treatment?
How can families and friends make a difference in the life of someone needing treatment?
Is drug addiction treatment worth its cost?
Drug Addiction Treatment in the United States
Behavioral Change Through Treatment
General Categories of Treatment Programs
Treating Criminal Justice-Involved Drug Abusers and Addicts
Prison-based treatment programs
Community-based treatment for criminal justice populations
Scientifically Based Approaches to Drug Addiction Treatment
Relapse Prevention
Supportive-Expressive Psychotherapy
Individualized Drug Counseling
Motivational Enhancement Therapy
Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents
Multidimensional Family Therapy
(MDFT)
for Adolescents
Multisystemic Therapy (MSP)
Combined Behavioral and Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Nicotine Addiction
Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) Plus Vouchers
Voucher-Based Reinforcement Therapy in Methadone Maintenance
Treatment
Day Treatment With Abstinence Contingencies and Vouchers
The Matrix Model
Rate and Duration for Drug Activity Play Major Roles in Drug Abuse, Addiction, and Treatment Rate of Action
Why Does Rate of Action Affect the Brain?
Method of Drug Administration Affects Rate of Action
Duration of Action
Developing a Cocaine Treatment Medication
How Does Method of Administration Influence Rate of Action?
Sources
Treatment Methods for Women
Understanding Women Who Use Drugs
Consequences of Drug Use for Women
Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS
Treatment for Women
Extent of Use
Lessons from Prevention Research
Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Treatment
Four Common Types of Drug Abuse Treatment
Highlights From the Study
Keeping Patients in Treatment
Sources
Brief Intervention for Alcohol Problems Screening for Alcohol Problems
Common Elements of Brief Intervention
Feedback of person risk Responsibility of the patient
Advice to change Menu of ways to reduce drinking Empathetic counseling style Self-efficacy or optimism of the patient
Establishing a drinking goal
Follow-up
Timing
Effectiveness of Brief Intervention
For non-alcohol-dependent patients
For alcohol-dependent patients
Conclusion
References