Counselor Toolbox - Addiction, Counseling, And Mental Health Continuing Education | Recovery | Relationships | Clinical | Psy

1. Introduction Topic: Addiction Prevalence, Symptoms, and Course Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes Focus: Understanding addiction as a chronic disease affecting brain function and behavior. 2. Prevalence of Addiction 2012 Statistics: 6.5% of the population over age 12 reported heavy drinking. 9.2% reported illicit drug use. 2021 Statistics: 14.3% reported illicit drug use, possibly influenced by marijuana legalization. 5.8% reported heavy drinking, showing a slight decrease. Interpretation: The statistics provide insight but may be influenced by changing legal statuses of substances like marijuana. 3. Addiction as a Disease Definition: Addiction is a chronic disease that impacts brain reward, motivation, and memory circuits. Diagnosis: The DSM-5 categorizes substance-related disorders into intoxication, withdrawal, and substance use disorders. Impact on the Brain: Addiction causes physiological changes, particularly in dopamine and opioid systems, leading to altered brain function and beh