SWH 422 Substance Use and Social Work
Social workers across all sectors of practice engage with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities that are significantly affected by substance use and substance use disorders. In this 3-credit course, students will become familiar with the histories and theories that shape understanding of substance use. Set within a social justice framework, students will critically analyze the intersections of substance use with racism, classism, xenophobia, and other forms of structural oppression. Informed by the person-in-environment perspective, students will explore the complex interactions of historical, political, cultural, and social factors that influence substance use and health disparities. Motivational interviewing and harm reduction strategies are foregrounded, preparing students to deliver services for people who use alcohol and other drugs and have mixed goals related to substances, whether that is to maintain or make changes to their use. Through a simulated learning experience, there will be opportunities to practice engaging with a client and assessing their substance use. A comprehensive, strengths-based, collaborative, and multidimensional biopsychosocial assessment will be developed. Students will acquire knowledge and skills related to evidence-informed substance use prevention, education, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing recovery support. Throughout the semester, students will be invited to reflect on their own perceptions of substance use and people who use drugs to increase self-awareness and promote clinical and policy practices that are guided by compassion and interprofessional research.
Prerequisite
Open only to SSW students enrolled in the MSW Hybrid program.