DRUG 522 Drug Abuse & Chemical Dependency
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with knowledge of:
a. the drugs and substances of abuse including alcohol and tobacco
b. the signs, symptoms and risk factors of addiction
c. the diagnosis of addictive behavior
d. the behavior of drug and substance abuse
e. physiology, neuroscience, pharmacology and psychology of the disease of addiction
f. the prevalence and characteristics of substance abuse and addiction in our society, the health professions and especially the dental profession
g. the Drug Enforcement Agency and the laws and regulations pertaining to drug and substance abuse in our society
h. rules and regulations pertaining to drug and substance abuse in the dental profession
i. the laws and regulations for prescription writing that help prevent the abuse of drugs
j. the organizations existing to help the addicted such as Alcoholics Anonymous
k. the accepted procedures to help a patient with his/her addiction or substance abuse problem
l. the accepted procedures to help fellow health practitioners with their addictions or substance abuse problems
m. contraindications for patients who are drug abusers and addicts
n. the treatment and management of addicts and recovering addicts
o. the considerations, changes and precautions that a dentist should take in his/her practice when dealing with an addict or substance abuser
p. the organizational structure existing for the proper reporting, helping and treating of dentists and dental hygienists with drug abuse and addiction problems
q. alternative life styles that provide for a healthy, fulfilling and rewarding life without addictive substances or behaviors
r. information to recognize individuals of physical abuse and information on how to intervene and help them
s. alternative to pain medicine
t. genetic predisposition to addiction
u. solving prescription opioid abuse with new drugs and new formulations
Offered
Spring.