The Brain and the Disease of Addiction
CORE Substance Use Disorder Training
Training Overview
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction training will teach you about the disease of addiction by looking at how the brain is affected by substances such as drugs and alcohol and how the disease of addiction develops.
The training builds the scientific foundation by explaining how substances affect the brain, how substance use disorder (SUD) develops, and how neuroplasticity supports recovery. Learners gain a clearer understanding of tolerance, withdrawal, and return to use, helping them replace assumptions about willpower with more informed and compassionate expectations.
This training is designed for individuals, professionals, and organizations committed to preventing substance use disorder, improving treatment outcomes, reducing overdose risk, and supporting recovery across communities through education that builds knowledge, skills, and confidence among staff, professionals, and community members.
What You Will Learn
- Discuss how the brain is affected from substances such as drugs and alcohol.
- Explain how the disease of addiction develops.
- Explain brain neuroplasticity and how through treatment and recovery the brain can change / reset.
Training Format Options
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction training is available as a self-paced online continuing education course, as a train-the-trainer program for internal or community trainings or delivered by Overdose Lifeline as live group virtual training for five or more.
Online Course
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction
Accredited continuing education online course including ANCC Nursing, ACCME Physician, ACPE Pharmacy, and AMA PRA Category 1 (ACCME) for other disciplines and professionals. Clinician and layperson accreditation through Purdue University, College of Pharmacy, Office of Continuing Education.
- DEA MATE Act–approved
- 2.0 CE Credits
- $30.00 I Group Pricing for 6+
- Video-based on-demand course
- Certificate available upon successfull course completion
Train the Trainer
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction Train the Trainer (TTT) Program equips partners with the tools and resources needed to deliver staff and community education within their local areas.
This scalable training model helps organizations meet sustainability goals while reaching multiple sectors—including schools, healthcare, law enforcement, community-based organizations, and more.
This scalable training model helps organizations meet sustainability goals while reaching multiple sectors—including schools, healthcare, law enforcement, community-based organizations, and more.
- Training and Annual License $380
- Group Licensing Available
- Flexible and Customizable Turnkey Program Materials
- 15% Discount for 6+ Trainers or Multi-Program Purchase.
Virtual Group Training
The Brain and the Disease of Addiction
Bring specialized substance use disorder and overdose prevention education to your team through interactive, live virtual training. Explore one or more topics grounded in research, with resources that support learning during and after the session.
- Reflection, breakouts, polls, and Q&A
- Pre- and post-training surveys
- Handouts, certificates, and a session recording
- Training options and a custom quote
Training Outline
- I. Addiction/Substance Use Disorder Historical View
- II. Definition of Addiction
- a. ASAM – Detailed
- b. Brief
- III. Number of Americans Affected, Treatment Gap, Barriers, and Recommendations
- IV. Cause and Risk Factors
- V. Effects on the Brain
- VI. Regions of the Brain Functions
- a. Limbic System and the Reward Pathway
- b. Dopamine and Neurotransmitters
- c. Reliance, Tolerance and Self Control
- d. Brain is Rewired
- e. Effect on the Survival Hierarchy
- f. Putting it all Together
- VII. Withdrawal
- VIII. Relapse
- IX. Neuroplasticity – The Brain’s Ability to Change/Reset
- X. Drug Classifications
- End Notes and Resources