HUS 4442 - Substance Abuse and the Family

College of Health Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2023 (625)

Requisites

(Prerequisite HSA 4184 with a minimum grade of C and
Admission to Health Services Administration (Bachelor of Applied Science) (HSA-BAS)) or
(Prerequisite DEH 3813 with a minimum grade of C and
Admission to Dental Hygiene (Bachelor of Applied Science) (DENH-BAS)) or
Admission to Human Services (Bachelor of Science) (HUMSVC-BS) or
Admission to Applied Mental Health (Advanced Technical Certificate with Financial Aid Eligibility) (AMH-ATC)

Course Description

This course offers a broad overview of the basic processes of substance use, abuse, addiction, treatment, and recovery. Students will examine the biological, psychological and societal forces that encourage the use, misuse, abuse and addiction to both licit and illicit substances. The course focuses on the major substances of abuse and their historical, social and legal impact on our society as well as their physical, psychological and social impact on individuals, families, and the community.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will explain the basic effects of commonly used, misused or abused legal and illegal substances on the human body by:
    1. describing the primary effects of psychoactive substances within specific drug classifications.
    2. comparing and contrasting the properties of stimulants, depressants, and inhalants.
    3. outlining the physical impact of drug actions and interactions on the human nervous system.
    4. examining the consequences of psychoactive prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, performance-enhancing drugs, and mood altering substances.
    5. identifying the effects of commonly used legal substances such as nicotine, over-the-counter (OTC) substances, caffeine, and energy drinks.
    6. differentiating between the concepts of tolerance, substance abuse and substance dependence.
  2. The student will identify determinants of substance abuse and dependence by:
    1. describing risk factors for substance use, including environmental influences, inherited factors, and brain chemistry.
    2. explaining the disease concept of addiction.
    3. differentiating substance abuse patterns related to race, income, education, and geographic location.
    4. outlining the cultural influences, including family, peers, and media, on the use of selected drugs.
    5. describing protective factors that minimize risk for substance use, misuse, and abuse.
  3. The student will describe the behavioral and social effects of psychoactive and mood-altering substances on individuals, families and the community by:
    1. analyzing societal consequences of substance abuse and addiction.
    2. explaining the impact of substance-related disorders on the individual and families.
    3. distinguishing the relationship between certain illegal (i.e., heroin and opioids) drugs and crime.
    4. articulating personal reflections on substance use and addiction.
  4. The student will describe substance abuse prevention and treatment programs by:
    1. explaining the “biopsychosocial” nature of addiction.
    2. identifying the key elements to effective prevention programs.
    3. explaining the influence of Alcoholics Anonymous on substance abuse treatment programs for alcohol and for other substances.
    4. providing examples of peer, family, and community approaches to prevention.
    5. identifying the principles of various treatment modalities and interventions used in treating substance abuse and dependency.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of this course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

Effective 20091(0415) Submitted as 4440; SCNS approved as 4442. C&I Approval: 04/11/2014, BOT Approval: 06/15/2014, Effective Term: Spring 2015 (495). C&I Approval: 11/20/2015, BOT Approval: 03/15/2016, Effective Term: Fall 2016 (520). C&I Approval: 02/21/2020, BOT Approval: 03/17/2020, Effective Term: Fall 2020 (580).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2023 (625)

Related Programs

  1. Dental Hygiene (DENH-BAS) (640) (Active)
  2. Health Services Administration (HSA-BAS) (655) (Active)
  3. Human Services (HUMSVC-BS) (640) (Active)