ADC404: Mental Illness, Addiction, and Dual Diagnosis

Instructor & Contact Information

The People tab in Canvas provides information on the course instructor and you can send a message to your instructor following these instructions. Faculty are expected to: 1) grade and return assignments, with feedback, within 7 days from the date of submission; 2) reply to your Canvas messages within 72 hours; 3) reply several times each week in total in the discussion forums (not to each individual student); and 4) demonstrate the core values of City Vision University.

Course Description

The content of this course is designed to address issues concerning the treatment of clients who have both a substance use disorder and another mental disorder. Counselors must recognize and address both conditions. Otherwise the risk of relapse remains high. Learn the most significant predictor of treatment success, how to provide an empathic and continuous treatment relationship, how to recognize the criteria for a substance use disorder, and more. 

Major changes have been made to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in its 5th revision. The DSM-5 was published in 2013 after a twelve year process of revision. This course will review key changes to this important diagnostic tool, changes which include: 1) combining the substance abuse and substance dependence disorders into one heading of substance use disorder; 2) requiring that at least 2 criteria be met for this diagnosis; 3) adding cannabis withdrawal and caffeine withdrawal as new disorders; and 4) the addition of a new Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders section.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand how to assess and treat clients who present with both a mental health and a substance use disorder. 
2. Learn about the various treatment models commonly used to treat the dually diagnosed. 
3. Gain knowledge of simple principles and techniques for assessing a substance use disorder. 
4. Gain knowledge of some of the issues, principles, and procedures used to establish a psychiatric diagnosis. 
5. Understand how to recognize the diagnostic features of the more common mental health disorders. Learn the key treatment issues of those mental health disorders.

Degree Program Outcomes

Degree outcomes are the overall skills and knowledge we expect you will have after successfully completing a degree program at City Vision University. After completing the degree, you will be able to do the following in each of the listed domains:

1. Christian Integration. Integrate Christian principles and counseling theories in an ethical manner in both Christian and secular counseling environments.*
2. Certification Exam Prep. Identify the key concepts needed to take a licensure exam either to apply to be a peer support specialist or certified addiction counselor.
3. Case Management. Develop case management plans to help clients identify areas where they need help and connecting them with personal and community resources that will help them.
4. Chemical Dependency. Describe foundational concepts of chemical dependency including a range of psychoactive drugs and how they work.
5. Psychology. Describe the foundational concepts of psychology and apply that in both Christian and secular counseling environments.
6. Clinical Counseling Skills. Utilize foundational skills for clinical addiction counseling.
7. Multicultural Counseling. Utilize effective methods to counsel diverse clients in both Christian and secular counseling environments.
8. Specialized Skills. Apply knowledge and skills in specialized domains related to Addiction Counseling.*

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

• Atkins, C. (2022). Co-Occurring Disorders: A Whole Person Approach to the Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use and Mental Disorders (2nd ed.). PESI Publishing & Media. ASIN: ‎ B09YMH8Q72, ISBN-10: ‎ 1683733827, ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1683733829
• Emlet, M. R. (2017). Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications. New Growth Press. ISBN: 194527011X. 112 pages.

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

• Grading Scale 

• Deadlines to Drop Courses

• Attendance, Late Policy and Extensions

• Technology Requirements for Courses

• Standards of Academic Integrity & Plagiarism Policy

• What plagiarism is and how to avoid it 

• Credit Hour Policy, Grading Policy and Other Academic Policies

• ADA Policy, Learning Accommodations & Disabilities Services
• Student Code of Conduct 

• Library Services

Additional Policies:

• Privacy Policy

• Consumer Disclosures
• Additional policies are listed in our catalog

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: April 14, 2022