Psychology, Addiction and Substance Abuse Concentration, B.A.

Program Description:   

The field of addiction studies is one of the fasting growing fields in America. As awareness and treatment centers have opened up a need for workers in the field has increased.  According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 employment in the Substance abuse counseling field will increase by 23%. There is also a need to have new ways of dealing this problem beyond the traditional models used.  There is a strong need for outside the box thinking which can be obtained through academic rigor and brainstorming. 

This field of addiction study comprises of the biological, psychological, and sociological understanding of use, misuse, and addiction.  The first step is understanding the causes of addiction to further the ability to treat the addicted.   This knowledge can be obtained through research, analysis of previous research, and class room interaction.  It will also be important to understand trends in the field as well as new drugs that are being used and abused that may not have reached general societies awareness.  Another key is how to educate society, especially teenagers, in the attraction and danger of substances.

In this program, students will not only learn about the causes of addictions but will familiarize themselves with the legal and social process of determining addiction levels.  There will be a hands on component using modern psychological testing tools that determine if someone is addicted to a substance and the DSM V level of severity for addiction.    

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the biological, psychological, and social causes of substance abuse and addiction

• Apply psychological theories, research and data, and ethics to working with individuals with substance abuse

• Apply analytical skills to address current issues within field of addiction and substance abuse

• Identify historical, legal, and cultural trends that contribute to modern societies understanding of drug use, misuse, and abuse

• Identify the use and risks associated with each class of psychoactive drugs.

Careers:

The field of addiction is the only field where someone can become a licensed counselor with a bachelor degree.  Each state has different requirements for the number of hour’s required and different levels of education but they require less education to be a counselor. With this degree a student would be well on their way to achieve the license of a drug and alcohol with the only remaining requirement being the hours of supervision. 

Due to the continued society’s issues with addiction and with the federal government becoming more concerned about the cost of addiction, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 employment in the Substance abuse counseling field will increase by 23%.

Example of jobs in the field include: recovery works, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, police officers, case managers, probation officers, to name a few.