Use of Film in Undergraduate Human Services: Understanding the Addiction and Recovery Process

ABSTRACT

Steady growth of the addiction field requires human service education programs to prepare competent professionals who can successfully engage in addiction practice. Competency in addiction practice requires human service students to develop an objective understanding of the relapse prevention and recovery process. Though research supports the use of media tools in the classroom, its use in developing addiction intervention competencies in human service students is unknown. The authors present an exploration of the film 28 Days as an addiction recovery teaching tool and discuss students’ understanding of recovery and relapse prevention. Implications for addiction and human service education are also presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Human service professional
• 28 days film
• addiction competency
• addiction
• relapse prevention
• addiction education
• human service education
• creativity in counseling