The best training in Drug Addiction Prevention
The field of addictions It is one of the most fascinating and complex of Psychology and Health Sciences. The prevalence of addiction disorders is very high, especially at a time when the consumption of addictive substances is starting at an earlier age.
However, the psychological and social interventions needed to combat the problem of addiction can not focus solely on treating addicts. One of the crucial factors to take into account is prevention: the set of research, plans and strategies aimed at preventing dependency from reaching a critical point of development.
In this article we will see how can you choose the best training in drug addiction prevention , taking into account several criteria that inform us about the quality of these courses, masters and postgraduate specialization.
- Related article: "15 consequences of drug use (in your mind and in your body)"
How to train in Drug Addiction Prevention: quality criteria
When it comes to choosing training programs, it is important to see if the master's, courses and postgraduate programs have the following characteristics.
1. Treat the main forms of addiction
Unless the learning program focuses on a very specific type of addiction, these courses should give a global vision at least of the main forms of addiction , and not just some relatively uncommon. In this way, students will gain versatility in the workplace.
2. They are based on scientifically validated knowledge
It is clear that the knowledge obtained through science is never definitive or impossible to question, but that does not mean that they have the same value as those achieved through any other procedure.
Especially in such a delicate area and associated with the sector of the health professions, it is essential that both the paradigm from which it starts and the contents taught have scientific strength and are updated in line with the latest published research. Approaches that speak of addictions based on totally abstract concepts and without operational definition, or that are based on outdated models associated with mysticism, should be discarded.
3. They offer a personalized treatment
Much of the learning potential offered by a training program comes not from the information transmitted to us in a more or less unidirectional way, but from the possibility of interacting with people with real knowledge in the subject and willing to solve our specific doubts .
Therefore, personalized tutorials are essential. Thanks to these counseling sessions, we "soak up" knowledge in a more spontaneous and dynamic way, although studying alone is also essential.
4. That they offer theoretical and practical knowledge
In the case of postgraduate and master's degrees, it is important to have the possibility of practicing related to what has been studied. In this way, students will internalize the knowledge transmitted through the double track of theory and practice , two facets interrelated and co-dependent on each other. It is of little use to know the theory if that does not translate into patterns of behavior that lead us to action regardless of whether our sphere is clinical, psychosocial or educational.
5. To report on all levels of addiction
Addictions have different levels of complexity, ranging from the micro of the neuropsychology of the reward circuit to the macro of the relational and social aspects of the addictive behaviors. To understand well in which ways the prevention of these alterations can be addressed, we must have a global vision of all this problem, and the courses, masters and postgraduates they must cover those levels of complexity .
- Maybe you're interested: "Addictions without substances: compulsive behavior without control"
An example of training in Drug Addiction Prevention
Once we have seen the general aspects of good training programs in this area, let's see an example.
The Master's Degree in Prevention of Addictive Behaviors of the International University of Valencia is a highly specialized program based on quality criteria developed in the European Union, based on scientific evidence and also a pioneer in its field: it is the first official online master's degree covering this branch of Health Sciences.
On the other hand, it is associated with a period of internships and the possibility of specializing in different areas of intervention: work area, family context, schools and other educational centers, etc.In addition, its online format does not prevent it from offering personalized treatment through its tutorial system.
- For more information about this master, click here.
Conclusion: an interesting area of specialization
The existence of addictions is a challenge that as a society we are obliged to face, and this requires well-trained professionals. Therefore, the specialization in prevention It is one of the main focuses of professionalization , and it seems that it will continue to be long term because of the extension of the problem of drugs and addictive behaviors.
