This course is suitable for those whose work brings them into contact with substance misuse. Included will be traditional illicit drugs and the more recent Novel Psychoactive Substances - NPS (formerly known as 'legal highs')
The course will provide psychological and physiological information regarding commonly used drugs, their effects and risks, and provide an opportunity to explore our attitudes towards them and those who use them. The nature of drug use is changing. Increasingly, new synthetic substances are replacing the traditional 'organic' drugs, and this training provides an introduction to what they are and how they work. The session will encourage an informed discussion about how to address drug use in the home, with friends and colleagues and in schools.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify commonly used illicit drugs and how they are used
- Describe the reasons why people use substances
- Explain the psychological changes experienced when under the influence of different substances
- Explore the differences between physical dependence and psychological dependence
- Identify related physical risks
- Describe the legal classifications and penalties of drug use including NPS's
- Explore how to engage a person in a discussion about their drug use
- Identify treatment options and support