PSYC 670: Child and Adolescent Drug Abuse: Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Prerequisites: Graduate standing
Credit Hours: (3)
The course introduces students to the area of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of drug abuse in children and adolescents. The DMS and other diagnostic systems are presented. Approaches to therapy that have proven effective with children and adolescents are covered. Ethical/legal and prevention strategies and considered. The student is required to do an assessment, a diagnosis, develop a treatment plan, design a treatment center, and develop a prevent plan.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
1. Cognitive development of children and adolescents
2. Emotional development of children and adolescents
3. Influences in children and adolescents on drug use: peers, gangs, and gender
4. Family influences and drug use: history of drug use by family members family support
of drug use level of family functioning
5. School influences
a. Type of school
b. Support in schools for drug education
c. School performance
d. School involvement
e. School treatment programs
f. Legal issues in working in schools
6. Cultural influences
a. Majority vs. minority culture
b. Media
7. Legal and ethical issues
a. Confidentiality issues specific to children and adolescents
b. Federal and state law in regard to drug abuse
c. Confidentiality issues in the school setting
d. Informed consent
e. Parental rights
f. Duty to warn
8. Assessment
a. Structured drug interviews and instruments
b. CAGE
c. Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test
d. Substance Abuse Problem Checklist
e. Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Instrument
f. Mullis Structured Drug Assessment Interview
g. Psychometric instruments
h. Drug testing
i. Suicide assessment
9. Diagnosis
a. DSM
b. Alternative diagnostic systems
c. Dual diagnoses
10. Treatment Planning
a. Individual counseling (theoretical approaches)
b. Group counseling (theoretical approaches)
c. Residential therapy
d. Psycho-educational/in school programs
11. Referral
a. Making a referral
b. Types of referrals
12. Prevention
a. Educational programs in schools
b. Community education
c. Peer education
d. DARE
Detailed Description of Course
The course will consist of lectures, role-playing, student presentations and demonstrations of how to do therapy with children and adolescents. The student is required to do a comprehensive structured interview and evaluation. Each student is required to research and write a paper on a therapy approach, and treatment plan, which could be used in treating drug abuse. Additionally, a research paper on a comprehensive prevention plan that could be used in schools or the community is required.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
The purpose of the course is to provide the student with an overview of the developmental aspects of children and adolescents and how their development relates to being at risk for drug abuse. The goal is to help the student become familiar with assessment procedures, be able to make a diagnosis, develop a treatment plan and a prevention program.
Assessment Measures
The students will be graded by letter grade on their presentations, research papers and exams.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
October 2000 New course proposal