Substance Misuse Awareness Level 3

This course is about the misuse and abuse of substances such as drugs and alcohol that are used to change a person's state of body or mind, for reasons other than a medical need.

Substance misuse often leads to addiction, which can be defined as the continuing and compulsive misuse of substances despite physical and/or psychological harm to the user, family or society and includes both legal and illegal substances.

Causes and Types of Substance Misuse

• Explain the major social, personal and medical factors that can lead to substance misuse
• Discus the patterns of misuse that often occur, the types of dependence that substance misuse can lead to and the stages of substance misuse that lead to addiction
• Describe the range of substances commonly misused and their effects

Signs and Effects of Substance Misuse

• Explain the physical, behavioural and psychological signs of substance misuse
• Describe the effects of substance misuse on health
• Treatment, Rehabilitation and Legal Issues

Explain the principles behind the range of treatments used with individuals who misuse substances

• Identify the range of treatments, the purpose of rehabilitation and tips for helping individuals remain drug-free
• Explain the main legislation relating to substance misuse including the National Harm Reduction Strategy