This course fulfills the 30 hours of alcohol and drug studies requirement for licensure as an Addictions Counselor in Montana through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health. This course includes information on drug classification, effects, ingestion methods, transmission, and biopsychosocial effects of various substances.

AC 504 is offered during the 1st session each Fall semester. 

This course fulfills the 30 hours of alcohol and drug studies requirement for licensure as an Addictions Counselor in Montana through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health. This course includes information on drug classification, effects, ingestion methods, transmission, and biopsychosocial effects of various substances.

  1. Describe the methods of ingestion, benefits, and side effects of various drugs and drug classes.
  2. Apply addictions assessment, treatment, and prevention concepts to various drugs and drug classes.
  3. Evaluate the role of alcohol and drug studies on the field of addictions counseling.
  4. Develop treatment and prevention interventions to improve clients’, families’, and communities’ well-being in relation to alcohol and drug studies.

This is an 8-week course that includes 30 hours of instruction delivered online in an asynchronous format through 4 modules. Each module is approximately 2 weeks in duration. This means that you can work at your own pace to meet your learning objectives while adhering to the weekly posted due dates. Assignment due dates are specified in the course schedule at the end of this document.

This course is taught online. Course participants login and participate at a time of day that is convenient for them. It is recommended that participants login at least 4 to 5 times per week and plan on spending 16 to 18 hours per week (combination online and offline) for 7.5 weeks to successfully complete this 3-credit course.  If you are unfamiliar with this field of study and/or method of delivery, you may require more time.

Restricted to Montana State University students in the Addiction Counseling Certificate, Masters in Counseling, and Health Sciences Programs. If you are a Non-Degree seeking graduate student wishing to enroll in this class, please contact Edward Dunbar at [email protected]

Hart, C. L. (2021). Drug use for grown ups. Chasing liberty in the land of fear. Penguin Books.

Kuhn, C., Swartzwelder, S., & Wilson, W. (2019) Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs from alcohol to ecstasy 5th ed. Norton & Company New York.