Description: This three day class, which serves as a foundation course for addiction professionals, is offered to child welfare caseworkers in order to provide them with a solid informational background in addiction treatment. Between 40 and 80% of child welfare caseloads nationwide are have substance abuse as a primary concern. This course provides an overview of theories of addiction, principles of effective treatment and brief descriptions of pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches supported by research. The first day offers a historical evolution of prominent theories of addiction leading towards what William Miller refers to as, "an informed eclecticism". The second day presents NIDA's 13 principles of effective treatment. Through a thorough audit of the research, NIDA has identified these key principles that should be operationalized in practice. Implications for applying these principles in treatment settings are addressed. The day concludes with a lesson on research, highlighting common research terminology and evaluating journal articles. The last day of this class covers evidence-based treatment approaches. An overview of the more common pharmacological and behavioral models is presented. |