Substance Abuse and Gender, Culture, Lifestyle and Lifespan Issues

This course is designed to assist the student in understanding the impact of gender, race, culture, age, sexual orientation, and/or physical challenges have on addiction and recovery.  We will examine how these issues: Influence the prevalence and pattern of substance use/abuse among European-, African-, Hispanic-, Asian-, and Native-Americans and among youth, the elderly, LGBTQ, and the physically disabled. Impact the bio-psycho-social and sociopolitical issues relevant to substance abuse disorders among these special population groups. Demand specialized treatment approaches and counseling techniques. Improve cultural competence to appropriately engage and retain cultural, racial, and ethnic populations in treatment interventions and outreach services. Impact treatment outcomes, continuing care, and relapse. This course will assist the student in strengthening his/her cultural competency and improving his/her cross-cultural counseling skills and ability to respond to the needs of a diverse client base. Prerequisites: A.A. degree or equivalent in units 84 quarter/56 semester is strongly recommended. Minimum requirement is 18 years of age or older, high school diploma or GED equivalent plus one year sobriety. Grading: A-F grading only. Equivalent Quarter Course: EPSY 7687.