SOC 289W - Chemical Dependency

Credits: 3

1. Practice personal reflection to identify one’s values, attitudes, and biases, especially as it relates to substances, substance use, and dependency.
2. Develop an awareness of how of one’s own values, attitudes, and biases may harm the helping relationship.
3. Recognize how the NASW core values, ethical principles, and standards impact the professional social worker regarding substances, substance abuse, and dependency.
4. Practice managing one’s own personal values, attitudes, and biases during class discussions and writing assignments so they do not interfere with one’s ability to maintain professionalism.

2.Recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance power and privilege [*EP 2.1.4].

1. Identify the various forms of oppression, discrimination, marginalization, and alienation occurring in society.
2. Explain how social and cultural structures contribute to oppression, discrimination, marginalization, and alienation of less powerful groups.
3. Identify the various forms of power and privilege occurring in society.
4. Explain how social and cultural structures contribute to enhancing power and privilege for dominant groups.
5. Within the framework of substance use disorders, describe the professional social worker’s role in empowering oppressed and marginalized populations at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

3. Advance human rights and social and economic justice [*EP 2.1.5], especially as it relates to substance use disorders and treatment.

1. Identify fundamental human rights from the social work perspective.
2. Describe strategies to promote human rights.
3. Describe strategies to eradicate social and economic injustices.
4. Develop knowledge of culturally sensitive resources and treatment options for those grappling with substance abuse/chemical dependency in the greater Mid-Michigan area.
5. Practice advocating for human rights and social and economic justices through a research paper and class presentation on a substance abuse disorder affecting a specific population.

4. Analyze and advocate for policies that advance social well-being and inform social and economic justice [*EP 2.1.8, EP 2.1.3] as it relates to substance use disorders and treatment. 

1. Participate in class discussions on federal, state, and local policies concerning the War on Drugs, medical marijuana, legalization of marijuana, and substance abuse treatment.
2. Apply critical thinking skills to analyze the policies during group and class discussions.
3. Suggest policy recommendations in the assigned research paper and presentation. 

5. Practice viewing oneself as a learner and engage those with whom one works as informants [*EP 2.1.4].

1. Describe the role of the professional social worker in assessment and intervention.
2. Practice active listening skills during class discussions and activities to understand and appreciate classmates’ unique differences and wide-ranging points of views.
3. Practice inclusivity within the classroom setting.

6. Apply knowledge of human behavior to understand person and environment [*EP 2.1.7] as it relates to substance use disorders and interventions.

1. Develop an understanding of the various substance abuse disorders and compounds commonly abused as described in the textbook and DSM-5.
2. Critique a range of etiological and explanatory theories and supporting data.
3. Critique evidence based treatment methods.
4. Master using the main concepts associated with substances, substance use and dependency in classroom discussions, presentations, the mid-term exam, and writing assignments.
5. Develop knowledge of human behavior and the social environment to substance abuse and dependency using the Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction, including medical and behavioral theories and interventions.
6. Master an ability to apply knowledge of substance use disorders using the Biopsychosocial Model of Addiction for the final exam, which involves a biopsychosocial assessment and treatment plan based on a case scenario.

7. Use writing tasks to promote learning.

1. Practice critical writing skills within the subject.
2. Practice writing tasks relevant to the subject matter.
3. Practice applying APA Style to writing assignments.

*Council on Social Work Education (2008, revised 2015). Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. Retrieved March 7, 2017 from http://www.cswe.org.