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The Neurobiology of Addiction

Learn how to better help your substance use disorder patients by understanding how addiction affects the brain with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

Duration

2 weeks

Weekly study

4 hours

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How it works

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Discover how neurobiology relates to a substance use disorder

This two-week course provides an overview of neurobiological adaptations that occur during active addiction to help you better understand your patients, and improve your quality of care.

You’ll gain knowledge of the neurobiology of biopsychosocial disorders as well as the major genetic contributors to addiction.

With this knowledge, you’ll examine how the dysfunction in these neurobiological circuits can ultimately result in an individual’s pursuit of reward or relief by substance use and other behaviours.

Examine the biopsychosocial model of addiction

You’ll delve into the causes of substance use disorders including environmental factors and childhood traumatic events.

This will help you discuss the biopsychosocial model of addiction and its implications for the prevention and treatment of addiction disease.

Explore addiction treatment with industry experts

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to explain how understanding addiction as a chronic disease positively impacts the survival and recovery of people with addiction.

Learning from the experts at The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), you’ll also be able to identify the primary medications used in addiction treatment and their effect on the brain’s circuits and homeostasis.

With this knowledge, you’ll have a better understanding of your patients with substance use disorders and know how to improve the quality of treatment you provide.

Week 1
The Neuroscience of Addiction
- Course Introduction
  You will begin by examining the neurobiology of substance use disorders, learn how it affects a person suffering from an addiction, and explore environmental factors that contribute to addiction.
- The Pleasure Pathway
  In this section, you will explore how many activities such as food, water, sex, exercise, and relationships activate the brain's reward circuit, the pleasure pathway. Most of these activities involve the neurotransmitter dopamine.
- Positive and Negative Reinforcement
  In this section, you will view the progression of substance use disorder through the positive and negative reinforcement cycle of addiction. Taking substances in greater frequencies and quantities leads from euphoria to dysphoria.
- Impaired Executive Function in Addiction
  In this section, you will explore how chronic substance use causes impairment in signaling by neurotransmitters, which impacts decision-making.
- Brain Adaptation: Tolerance and Withdrawal
  In this section, you will examine the balance of neuron excitement and inhibition in the normal brain and contrast that with brain adaptation (or tolerance) and unopposed brain excitation (or withdrawal).
- Key Takeaways
  Faculty review topics from the neuroscience of addiction course including the pleasure/reward pathway, positive and negative reinforcement, impaired executive function in addiction, and tolerance and withdrawal.
Week 2
Environmental Factors in Addiction and Social Supports in Recovery
- Week Introduction
  This week, you will examine environmental and social factors that can play a role in the development of addiction and relapse, but also how they play a role in supporting sustainable recovery.
- Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs)
  In this section, you will examine how traumatic events in childhood can predispose individuals to addiction.
- Social and Environmental Factors in Addiction: What Animal Studies Reveal
  In this section, you will explore the Lessons of Rat Park and the role of social standing in the development of addiction.
- Environmental Cues as Risk Factors
  In this section, you will explore how triggering (Pavlovian conditioning) develops and how it can cause a return to use in an individual recovering from a substance use disorder.
- Return to Use and Recovery
  In this section, you will explore strategies and approaches to prevent patients from returning to use and support their recovery.
- Key Takeaways
  Faculty review topics from week 2 of the neuroscience of addiction course including social and environmental factors in addiction such as social isolation, social standing or placement, and the mitigating role of social supports.