Addiction Education in the Undergraduate Space: A Novel Course Connecting Neurobiology of Addiction and Compassion for Individuals with Substance Use Disorder
Leslie C. Newman and Ashley T. Swisshelm
https://doi.org/10.59390/IPNN1533
ABSTRACT
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic, relapsing disease with medical, psychological, and social complications. Sufficient knowledge of addiction mechanisms and compassion for individuals with SUD are essential for combatting the prevailing stigma associated with substance use and generating efforts for effective treatments. This article describes a unique undergraduate course on addiction where efforts to enhance understanding of the neurobiology of addiction are coordinated with an emphasis on the human element of SUD. Reinforcing the neurobiological details of addiction and their relation to SUD behaviors can humanize addiction and further motivate students to invest in learning these complex details. College students have increased exposure to and opportunities for drug use and face an increased risk of developing a SUD. Substance use among college students can contribute to physical, mental, academic, and social issues. A thorough education on the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction with emphasis on the human element can help students gain a better understanding of what happens in the brain and an appreciation for the disease nature of addiction. Ultimately, this knowledge can benefit students dealing directly or indirectly with SUD and can encourage and equip them to champion for more effective and empathetic approaches for tackling addiction. The impact of this course on student learning and motivation was measured by before and after course surveys. The results demonstrate that students developed a better understanding of addiction as a disease, gained a more compassionate view of individuals with SUD, and were inspired to learn more about how addiction affects the brain.