Course
Addiction and Recovery: Etiology and Physiology
PSY-40214
This course focuses on the disease of chemical dependency and corresponding symptoms. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the disease concept of chemical dependency and drugs used to treat it; identify symptoms of different types of chemical dependency; classify and identify major drugs; describe the development and use of psychoactive drugs throughout history; recognize signs of cross-tolerant, addictive, and synergistic effects of drugs; and identify signs of drug toxicity.
Course Information
Online
3.00 units
$475.00
Notes:
Required for the Professional Certificate in Substance Use Disorder Counseling. Letter grade required for CCAPP & CADTP certifications.
Course sessions
Closed
Closed
John Dunham brings a warm, compassionate, and deeply human-centered approach to teaching, grounded in more than two decades of professional experience across healthcare, counseling, and clinical supervision. He currently serves as the Contingency Management Program Supervisor at UCSF’s Opiate Treatment Outpatient Program (OTOP), where he leads harm reduction and motivational interviewing interventions for individuals with substance use and
co-occurring mental health disorders.
A certified substance use disorder counselor (CADC III, SUDCC), registered yoga teacher (RYT200), and associate therapist (AMFT, APCC), John’s academic path reflects his dedication to healing and service. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, building on his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and his A.S. in Addiction & Recovery Counseling from City College of San Francisco.
At UC San Diego, John teaches with a deep respect for the complexity of addiction and recovery. His courses integrate evidence-based approaches with practical experience from the field, emphasizing cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and patient empowerment. He is especially passionate about mentoring future counselors and psychologists to work ethically and effectively with low-income, multicultural, and gender-diverse populations.
John’s research and conference presentations focus on the implementation of contingency management within opioid treatment programs and the expansion of harm reduction strategies. Whether in the classroom or the clinic, he is committed to fostering connection, resilience, and growth in all his students and patients.
Full Bio
Section ID:
196321
Class type:
Online Asynchronous.
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 3/31/2026
Schedule:
No information available at this time.
Instructor: John Dunham
John Dunham
co-occurring mental health disorders.
A certified substance use disorder counselor (CADC III, SUDCC), registered yoga teacher (RYT200), and associate therapist (AMFT, APCC), John’s academic path reflects his dedication to healing and service. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, building on his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and his A.S. in Addiction & Recovery Counseling from City College of San Francisco.
At UC San Diego, John teaches with a deep respect for the complexity of addiction and recovery. His courses integrate evidence-based approaches with practical experience from the field, emphasizing cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and patient empowerment. He is especially passionate about mentoring future counselors and psychologists to work ethically and effectively with low-income, multicultural, and gender-diverse populations.
John’s research and conference presentations focus on the implementation of contingency management within opioid treatment programs and the expansion of harm reduction strategies. Whether in the classroom or the clinic, he is committed to fostering connection, resilience, and growth in all his students and patients.
Related Courses
Classroom type:
Live Online
In-Person
Online
Hybrid
