https://www.uvm.edu/~summer/course/202206/61856/summer-2022/social-work/understanding-addiction/

This course critically examines the origins, assumptions, and responses to addiction from societal, cultural, and historical perspectives. The course will explore the social construction of addiction and the resulting impact on the lives of individuals, families and communities who are struggling in their relationships with substances. This course will also introduce the complex relationship between addiction, trauma, and overall understandings of mental health and wellbeing. Students are challenged to explore, deconstruct, and reconstruct their own understandings of addiction as well as those of the authors they read.

This course will combine various methods of learning including, but not limited to, lectures, class activities, collaborative learning through small and large group discussions, required readings, educational videos, review of case examples and case conceptualization activities, guest and panel speakers, and completion of course assignments.

Grades will be evaluated based on participation and collaborative learning, 2-3 page weekly reflective writing assignments and small group discussion facilitation. There will not be quizzes or exams for this course. No required text books for this course--all reading materials will be provided on Blackboard.