Ethics Category

Drug Addiction: From Neuroscience to Ethics

1 CE Hour
5,803 members have taken this course
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About the Course

Using the opioid epidemic, the authors argue the importance for considering both conscious and unconscious processes in understanding the ethical framework of addiction. The authors hypothesize that in addition to identified Central Nervous System's neuronal/neurochemical factors contributing to addictive dynamics, the socio-economic status plays a causal role. This theory provides a strong base for a socio-political form of responsibility for preventing and managing addiction crisis.

This course is based on the article, Drug Addiction: From Neuroscience to Ethics created by Michele Farisco, et al. in 2018.

Publication Details

Publication Date: Frontiers in Psychiatry Nov 2018

Course Material Authors

Course Material Authors authored the material only, and were not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Michele Farisco, PhD

Dr. Farisco's second PhD deals with the philosophical, ethical and legal issues that arise when neuroscience investigates disorders that affect our consciousness. He has written three books and multiple articles and is published in peer reviewed journals.

Kathinka Evers, PhD

Kathinka Evers leads the CRB neuroethics research team. She is a co-director of the EU Flagship Human Brain Project. Her main research focus is neuroethics and the neural basis of consciousness and she teaches an advanced level course in neuroethics.

Jean-Pierre Changeux

Jean-Pierre Changeux is International Faculty at the Kavli Institute for Brain & Mind University of California San Diego and professor at the Collège de France & Institut Pasteur, Paris. Changeux has published several books including Neuronal Man (1985), What Makes Us Think? (with Paul Ricoeur) (2002), Physiology of truth (2002). The good, the true the beautiful. A neuronal approach (2012).

Course Creator

Francine Rubinstein, Psy.D. PY5333

Dr. Rubinstein received her Bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Florida and her Doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Rubinstein’s professional interests include recovery from trauma, chronic illness/chronic pain, anxiety, stress management and eating disorders. In addition to her experience as a clinician, Dr. Rubinstein has been published in areas addressing post-traumatic stress and chronic illness.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to differentiate between the conscious and unconscious processes contributing to addiction.
  2. 2 Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to distinguish the ethical role of medical practitioners in the prescription of opioids.
  3. 3 Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to identify the role socio-cultural status plays in the brains reward system.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Course Creator

Francine Rubinstein, Psy.D. PY5333 – No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE)

1 CE credit hour — Addiction Specific Law & Ethics
Eligible until Feb 27th, 2026
CE Learning Systems dba Addiction Counselor CE has been approved to offer Continuing Education credit for Certified Addictions Treatment Counselors (CATC) and Certified Clinical Supervisors (CCS) in accordance with the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators. (Provider # CP40 739 H 0226)
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

1 CE credit hour
Eligible until Sep 29th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Course Material

References begin on page 6.

Course Material

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