Addiction and Dependency: An Introduction

This course comprises of an overview of addictions covering the basic principles, diagnostic features as well as treatment methods and options. Topics that will be covered include essentials of substance addictive behaviors as well as non-substance addictions (e.g. gambling), historical overview, classifications, prevention, and harm reduction. Further, we will also focus on the basic and clinical research and current trends. By the end of the course, you will gain background knowledge of the field. You'll be able to discuss the terminology, nature and diagnostic criteria for addiction, explain factors essential for the origin of addiction. You will know the psychopharmacological basis of drug action, relations between mental health and other health-related problems, family issues and social consequences of addiction. You will be able to discuss prevention, treatment and harm-reduction approaches. Further, you will also know about the research done in the field yielding new therapeutic and prevention programs.