DIPLOMA IN ADDICTION STUDIES
Prices Starting At €895
International/Non-EU:
Call +353 1 4160034
Addiction is a condition in which a person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (e.g., gambling) that can be pleasurable but the continued use/act of which becomes compulsive resulting in substantial health, social and economic problems. The addiction studies diploma at City Colleges provides learners with a comprehensive overview of current thinking and practice in the area of addictive behaviours and substance use/abuse. The course covers a wide range of topics varying from the historical evolution of addiction to currently recommended models of treatment including psychological and pharmacological approaches. The course would be of interest to practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines who wish to grow their knowledge in addiction studies or anyone who wishes to learn more about the condition.
CPD Credits
9 CPD credits for members of the Psychological Society of Ireland
Week 1: Meaning and Nature. Multiple conceptions of addiction in current practice, reflecting more than substance-related issues. Addiction and Psychiatry
Week 2: Current neuro-biological, psychological, sociological and cultural understanding of the causes of addiction. Overview of different theoretical positions in conceptualising addiction (i.e. Medical, Religious, Psychological etc.)
Week 3: Focus on disease models of addiction
Week 4: Understanding addiction from a psychoanalytic perspective
Week 5: The bio-psycho-social model
Week 6: Overview of treatments of addiction: Psychotherapeutic, Pharmacological, etc
Week 7: Focus on conditioning models of treatment: Behaviourism, contingency management; cognitive-behavioural models of treatment: Self –regulation, relapse prevention; Emotion-regulation and mindfulness-based models of treatment
Week 8: Stages of change in the treatment of Addiction
Week 9: Addictive behaviours from the perspective of family systems theory
Week 10: Impact of addictive behaviours on society: health, culture and criminality – the Irish context
The details given above are the latest example of the curriculum available on this programme. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to change from time to time for reasons which include curriculum enhancement, staff changes, student numbers, improvements in technology, changes to placements or regulatory or external body requirements.
A pass grade on the written assignment will be required for awarding of the Diploma.
The assignment/project must be handed in on the due date unless a sound reason for lateness is provided. In such instances, an extension may be awarded at the discretion of the lecturer.
Dr Aoife Quinn
Dr Aoife Quinn completed a BA in Psychology at National University of Maynooth followed by a PhD at the School of Psychology, University College Dublin.
In 2014, Aoife was awarded an Enterprise Partnership Scholarship by the Irish Research Council.
As a member of the City Colleges faculty, Aoife teaches the Sport and Exercise Psychology, Counselling Psychology and Addiction Studies diplomas.
Alongside her lecturing work, Aoife runs a private psychology practice in South Dublin and sees clients from a range of settings including sport and the corporate world. She is passionate about the benefits of psychology for changing lives and is particularly interested in mental wellbeing, motivation, and performance.
Course Award
A City College’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.
City College Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.
Corporate Training
In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City Colleges can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact Kevin.Coyne@citygroup.ie for further details.
Related Courses
Why City Colleges?
Study options that Suit your Schedule
Study where you want when you want. On Campus, Live Online, and On Demand.
Industry Expert-Led Courses
100+ courses, across subject areas in Business, IT, Psychology, Criminology, Law, Media, Arts & Science with over 16,000 graduates
World Class Teaching
City Colleges Lecturers are industry leaders in their chosen fields
Our commitment to student experience
Our Programme Teams engage, support, and guide our students throughout their programme to ensure that their learning experience is a positive one and prepares them to use their new skills in the workplace.
Cutting Edge Programme Content
Our students enjoy some of the most contemporary and industry-relevant course content, developed by our industry-based practitioners to close skills gaps in the global workforce
Premium courses at affordable prices
City Colleges is committed to ensuring that our education and training programmes are accessible and affordable.
City Colleges 
Ashfield College
Progressive College
City Language School