AS in Addiction Studies

The Addiction Studies pathway is vocational, academic, and clinical in nature. This program prepares students to become chemical dependency and drug/alcohol counselors. The program focuses on the prevention, treatment, and recovery of populations dealing with the negative effects of various forms of dependency and addiction. This research-driven program addresses community needs for trained substance use prevention and intervention specialists to work and volunteer in both public and private agencies in the North state and throughout California. This program fulfills the requirements needed to take state exams to become a certified drug/alcohol counselor.

Approximately 20 enrollment students to earn an associate degree each year.

Program Goals:

Students will gain expertise in assisting clients in overcoming substance addiction. This will include preparing students in performing basic counseling and case management, developing and enhancing interpersonal skills, creating and maintaining appropriate client documentation, and preparation to successfully pass a written examination leading to certification as an addiction treatment specialist through the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Educators (CAADE).

Graduates will go on to careers in numerous settings, including drug and alcohol treatment and prevention centers, family services, parent education, youth shelters, community health care, juvenile corrections, and more.

Program Objectives:

Demonstrate competent performance of the Twelve Core Functions and GlobalCriteria in their Supervised Practicum Internships, evidenced by written supervisorreview in both Supervised Internships, ADS 94 and ADS 21.

Apply CAADE ethical standards as evidenced by completion of the Ethics andProfessional Development course, and the signed Ethics Code submitted in thesupervised ADS 94 and ADS 21 courses.

Analyze and describe the physiological and pharmacological aspects of substance abuse and dependence. This includes how drugs affect different body system,cause side effects, and impacts the community as a whole.

Demonstrate the ability to competently conduct and follow a client from the point of program entry to discharge, and complete all treatment planning and casemanagement connected to that case.

Demonstrate an understanding of the laws, regulations, and ethical codes of the substance use disorder treatment profession.

Utilize effective communication and active listening skills and group counseling facilitation skills.

Apply Human Services behavioral core skills and experiential training in anaddiction treatment setting.

Students will be required to successfully complete 43 Core Courses plus 21 units Shasta College General Education Plan (students will meet with their counselors for their  educational plan).

Aminimum grade of "C" must be earned in all courses for the certificate. In addition, students will be required to have 75% or better attendance in order to apply the courses toward CCAPP certification.