This course is designed to provide new insights and understanding into prevention, recognition and treatment of patients with, and at risk for, drug misuse and abuse. The course enables dental students to understand addiction as primary, chronic and progressive disease and to demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacology, abuse potential, as well as the behavioral and physiological effects of the commonly abused drugs. Emphasis will be on increasing dental students skills and abilities to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse; identify and manage patients at risk for drug prob- lems; and become effective in providing successful care for drug dependent patients while minimizing their potential for relapse.