Addiction and Care

This module is aimed at enabling the social care student to understand the concepts and the theoretical bases of addictions and addictive behaviour. It further aims to examine the complex relationship between specific groups and addiction in the social environment, including, for example, people experiencing homelessness, women, offenders, children, and to critically review contemporary policy in relation to addiction and substance misuse. This module is rooted in addiction as it relates to social care and as such aims to provide the social care student with a broad understanding of addiction as it relates to social care settings and the broader community and introducing some of the core proficiencies of social care as set out in the CORU Standards of Proficiency for Social Care.

1. Critically discuss theories and concepts of addictions and addictive behaviour; Proficiencies 1.1, 1.2, 5.4 and 5.1

2. Explore and critically analyse the impact of addictive behaviour on individuals and society with particular reference to disclosures and the limits of practice for the social care worker. Proficiency 1.2, 1.4 and 5.1.

3. Critically discuss addiction care service systems in a national and international context with an emphasis on scientific enquiry; Proficiencies 5.5

4. Critically discuss substance misuse and specific populations within an Irish context, and define complex needs; Proficiencies 5.7

5. Critically discuss drug and alcohol policy development in Ireland and the importance of prevention initiatives. Proficiencies 5.7