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King's College London

Understanding Drugs and Addiction

King's College London via FutureLearn

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Overview

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We are all touched by addiction – personally, within our circle of family and friends, and within our community. Addiction and its related harms can be crippling for those affected and the people around them.

But how does addiction develop? What can we do to treat it? And what can we do to prevent it?

Explore how addiction develops

In this free online course, we’ll explore how addiction develops, looking at the environmental, genetic and personal risks involved.

We’ll examine what happens when a drug enters your body and your brain, how your brain changes, and how this process can make recovering from addiction such a challenge.

You’ll learn how we can best treat addiction, and how national and international policies help limit the harms from addiction.

Meet experts in addiction science and treatment

King’s College London is a world leader in the science and treatment of addiction. Educators on this course are drawn from a variety of disciplines throughout the university, and work together to understand and respond to addiction.

Each week, we’ll be joined by some of the world’s leading scientists, who will present cutting edge neuroscientific research - research that will lead to a greater understanding of how addiction develops and how we can treat it most effectively.

By understanding addiction, we can shed light on the greater issues of self-control and choice. Indeed, we will develop a greater understanding of ourselves.

No specialist knowledge or previous experience is required.

Taught by

Kyle Dyer

Reviews

4.8 rating, based on 5 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Understanding Drugs and Addiction

  • Lots of great information that gets you thinking about addictions in a different way. Some of the information could have been gone over a bit better, but overall, it was a good course.
  • Hilary Neilson
    This course is excellent. Many medical and scientific practitioners from addiction services contributed and there was a useful reflection from a former addict who now works helping others change their lives. Whether you want to understand the mechanisms of addiction, support a family member or reflect on your own path through addiction this will be valuable. All presentations were completely non-judgmental, and the student body contributed a lively, generous and informative dialogue.
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    Veve Cim

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