Description

Despite awareness and funding from both public and private sources, the global economy has inadequate person-centered care for the millions of people living with addiction. An important question in the case of opioids, for example, is: why do people start taking them and why can’t they stop? 

Research has impacted and improved our understanding of compulsive drug use, addiction, and dependency, enabling us to respond effectively to the problem with scientifically supported psychological interventions. The Psychology of Addiction and Recovery online short course explores the science of addiction, and the barriers to successfully addressing drug addiction and dependence at a personal and systemic level. Combining practical case studies with vital statistics drawn from public policy, cultural anthropology, and neuroscience, the course explores the concept of compulsion in addiction and how it applies to your context.

Over the course of six weeks, you’ll gain practical tools for screening and early intervention, and explore evidence for theories of recovery. Guided by Academic Director, Dr. Anna Lembke, you’ll evaluate new medical interventions for addiction treatment, approaches to psychotherapy, technological interventions, and peer support recovery. Finally, you’ll learn how scientific evidence can be used to establish innovative addiction treatments.

What you will learn

  • Explore the reasons why people become addicted to various substances or behaviors, the progression of addiction, and the different treatment and recovery approaches
  • Study the neurobiological factors that underlie addiction, and the way in which these impact intervention and recovery efforts
  • Assess screening and early intervention strategies for individuals taking part in risky substance use
  • Evaluate the biological, psychotherapeutic, and social treatments that can be used when targeting addictive behavior
  • Gain insight into treatments ranging from medications and somatic therapies, to talk therapy, innovative digital interventions, and peer-based programs that aim to target and treat addiction in various contexts

How you’ll learn

Every course is broken down into manageable, weekly modules, designed to accelerate your learning process through diverse learning activities:

  • Work through your downloadable and online instructional material
  • Interact with your peers and learning facilitators through weekly class-wide forums and reviewed small group discussions
  • Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including video lectures, infographics, live polls, and more
  • Investigate rich, real-world case studies
  • Apply what you learn each week to quizzes and ongoing project submissions, culminating in an intuitive understanding of the science of addiction and recovery

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Tuition

$1500 for duration of course.