Addiction in Clinical Practice: Drugs, Alcohol, and the Patient in Front of You

Course overview

*Describe the historical development of drug use in the United States, including the evolution of drug policy and the scope of addiction as a public health problem. *Identify the prevalence, economic costs, and population-level patterns of prescription drug abuse, including health disparities among ethnic groups and vulnerable populations. *Differentiate the pharmacological properties, mechanisms of action, and abuse potential of major illicit drug categories including hallucinogens, stimulants, opioids, and inhalants. *Explain how drugs of abuse alter brain neurochemistry and identify risk factors, comorbid conditions, and behavioral signs associated with addiction and dependence. *Apply evidence-based principles of drug addiction treatment to evaluate appropriate interventions across diverse patient populations and clinical settings. *Identify the economic, health, and societal costs of alcohol abuse, including impacts on productivity, mortality, and fetal development. *Describe the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and health consequences of alcoholism, including associated liver disease and systemic conditions. *Apply practical screening tools and trauma-informed communication strategies to identify and support patients with substance use disorders in a chiropractic clinical setting.