Analyzing Drugs of Abuse: Overview, Treatment, and Prevention

Course overview

Substance misuse is a major public health challenge. Millions of people in the United States are using illicit drugs, misusing prescription drugs, and participating in binge drinking or have other issues with alcohol misuse. Not only is the annual economic impact of substance misuse in the billions of dollars, drug overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, continue to impact communities nationwide. Providing drug education and prevention resources and services designed to reach targeted populations and address particular problems and needs is critical. Behavioral health providers need to be able to differentiate between drug abuse, dependence, and addiction and understand the abuse potential of numerous substances. Providers need to have an understanding of the harms and consequences of drug use, a drug's effects on the body and mind, overdose potential, origin, legal status, and other necessary facts on drugs of choice in their communities for them to be able to provide effective substance misuse treatment and prevention.