The module will cover culturally responsive policies, assessments, and treatment practices. Students will also learn how sociocultural views around different types of addiction relate to patterns of use/conduct, impacts on individuals struggling with different addictions and the impact on their families. The module focuses on understanding the nature of addiction and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. Considering historical and cultural perspectives on addiction. Along with the psychological theories of addiction across the lifespan, behavioural change, and their implications for treatment and prevention.

The module will further cover the role of brain chemistry and genetics in addiction, the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction and their implications for treatment, also considering the role of individual differences and personality in addictions. The role of caregivers and micro and macro social support will also be discussed.

The module will cover evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment, including behavioural change models, cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention, along with supplementary techniques (e.g. BCTs, ACT, mindfulness). The module will further provide students with an understanding of the psychosocial and pharmacological treatments and interventions used to combat addictions. The module will cover the classes of psychotherapeutic and addictive drugs, aiming at a deep understanding of drug classification, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the current medications.

This module will cover how to clinically assess symptoms, treatment needs and outcomes in individuals with various addictions. In this module, students will also learn about the common co-occurring psychiatric and legal issues relating to substance use disorders. This module also addresses the DSM 5 major disorders that co-occur with substance misuse, mainly mood, personality, anxiety and psychotic disorders and how effective different treatments are. Screening and assessment tools for addiction, diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders, and formulation and design of treatment plans based on assessment results will also be covered.

The module will explore different quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis methods, along with their applications and their strengths and weaknesses. Students will also develop their practical and interview skills, by using SPSS for quantitative research for the former and by taking part in interview simulations for the latter, as well as appreciating ethical issues and dilemmas in research.

The module will cover the use of counselling techniques in addictions, from initiation to relapse. The module will also cover from mainstream (e.g. Psychodynamic) to alternative (e.g. Dramatherapy) psychotherapeutic interventions along with both one-to-one and group therapy provision/ support groups, including family dynamics. Furthermore, the module will also go in-depth about biopsychosocial issues to gain a wider understanding of barriers to counselling and how to integrate diversity into treatment. Ethical and legal issues will also be covered and discussed.

The module is designed to enable students to apply their knowledge and skills to the development and implementation of a research project. The dissertation provides students with the opportunity to test their learning, display their subject knowledge and methodological skills, and explore in detail a topic that interests them.