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Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse: Challenges and Responses for Faith Leaders

NCJ Number
166385
Date Published
1995
Length
102 pages
Annotation
Recognizing that drug addiction treatment requires changing values, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment developed a curriculum for theological students that focuses on the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Abstract
The introduction to the curriculum considers the role of the clergy in responding to drug abuse problems. The first module of the curriculum provides a historical perspective on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse, with emphasis on early drug abuse habits, opiates, antidrug legislation, and 20th century responses to drug abuse. The second module covers effects of commonly abused drugs, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, LSD, PCP, ice, cocaine, heroin, inhalants, and sedatives-hypnotics. The third module is designed to facilitate understanding of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug dependencies by examining progression in drug abuse, risk factors for drug abuse and drug dependence, reasons why people use drugs, and appropriate responses to drug abuse. The final module describes drug abuse ministries and approaches to prevention, intervention, and treatment, and the focus is on the importance of religious values. Appendixes contain supplemental information on drug intervention and treatment, the impact of drug abuse on families and communities in rural settings, and strategies for establishing a drug abuse ministry. 128 references