Social Ecology of Addiction

3.00 credits · Graduate

An in-depth exploration of the varying influences that lead to the development of addictions and addictive disorders. Influences to be explored are those at the individual level (including variables such as gender, age, sexual orientation and ability); the micro-systemic level (including structures that impact most directly on the individual such as family, schooling, peers and health services); the macro-systemic level (including the impact of cultural factors such as socio-economic status, poverty, ethnicity and oppression); and the chrono-system, which includes significant transitions and life events (such as marriage, divorce, and exposure to traumatic events). Students will consider the interaction of each of these systems on a person and think critically about how addiction develops within these interactions and how to approach prevention of addiction.