Matters of Substance: Drugs--and Why Everyone's a User

11 CE Hours
57 members have taken this course
Skip to Course Registration Info

This course has been retired. We regularly update our course catalog to ensure relevance.

Search Courses

About the Course

Matters of Substance presents a new and lucid approach to the much-debated questions of drug control around the world. Griffith Edwards argues for a consideration of all drugs--from caffeine to crack--as more than the sum of their chemical structure. He shows that the effect of a drug is just as dependent on the social setting, historical legacy, and psychology of an individual as it is on any inherent quality of the drug. Attitudes about and control of drugs across the world are explored. Authoritative and wide ranging, this book will inform and enlighten all future debates on drugs in society.

This course is based on the book, Matters of Substance: Drugs--and Why Everyone's a User created by Griffith Edwards

Publication Details

Journal/Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 2004

Course Material Author

Griffith Edwards

Griffith Edwards set up the Addiction Research Unit in 1967, a research group that grew into what is now Britain's National Addiction Centre. He has advised the British Department of Health, Home Office, and Cabinet Office on aspects of drug and alcohol policy, as well as the World Health Organization. He set up research projects in Africa and Latin America, and acted as consultant to the White House Special Action Office on drug abuse. He is currently commissioning editor of the international scientific journal Addiction and emeritus professor of addiction behavior at the Institute of Psychiatry, London.

Griffith Edwards authored the material only, and was 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.

Course Creator

Keith Gibson, Ph.D.

Target Audience

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially addiction counselors, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about societal effects of a wide range of drugs. It is appropriate for all levels of participants' knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Explain the historical, social, and cultural context of various legal and illegal drugs.
  2. 2 Identify the factors that contribute to a specific drug becoming one that causes a large degree of harm to a society.
  3. 3 Describe the varying viewpoints regarding ways to combat drug epidemics and the pros and cons of each.

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

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Keith Gibson, Ph.D. – There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

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

Use our CE Approvals tool to look up your state requirements and how can help you meet them, or log in to your member account to show approvals relevant to your licensure.

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

11 CE credit hours
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.
More Info
NAADAC Approved Education Provider

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

11 CE credit hours
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

Florida Certification Board (FCB)

11 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
More Info

Florida Board of Psychology

11 CE credit hours
Eligible until Mar 31st, 2031
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
More Info

Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

11 CE credit hours
Eligible until Dec 30th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
More Info

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

11 CE credit hours

CASAC

Renewal: Yes

CPS, CPP

Section: Section 1
Renewal: Yes
Initial: Yes
Eligible until Feb 27th, 2028
More Info

Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

11 CE credit hours
Eligible until Jul 31st, 2026
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
More Info

Purchase at Amazon

Access Course Material

Viewing External Material

This course material is hosted by , a web site separate from Impact CE. When you're done, just close the tab/window to return to this course page.

Exam Questions

All exam questions for the course are visible on this page for members of Impact CE.

Membership is free, and you can register today! You'll only pay when you're ready to purchase a course, or if you take advantage of the Unlimited Package.

If you're already a member, please sign in to see the exam questions for this and all other courses.

Discuss this course

You can share your thoughts about this course after you pass the exam.

Sign In or Register to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most likely. Look Up Your State Board for more detailed information. Logged-in site members will see the relevant approval information displayed in the Approvals tab for every course.

If you are having trouble using Impact CE, please contact us! We would be happy to accommodate your needs right away, and your input will help us make Impact CE more accessible for future users too.

Use the Enroll In This Course button and just follow the instructions! You don't pay anything until you're ready to take an exam.

To complete the course, review the course objectives, then review the material, and then pass the exam with a score of 75% or greater and lastly complete an evaluation.

Most of our self-paced courses are based on online articles available for free to the public. Some courses, such as those based on books, require that you purchase the material. Use the Materials tab for more info. Live courses simply require that you attend.

Your certificate(s) will be available to download or email immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.

Yes! Use the Help widget at the bottom-right of the screen anywhere on Impact CE to search our help docs, or to ask our support team for help. Unlike most of our competitors, Impact CE has live US-based support reps to help you by email, chat, or phone.

Start your CE Journey now - complete your first course today, on us.

Try for free - no commitment required.

Start a Free Trial Course

Continuing Education

Copyright © 2026 CE Learning Systems LLC

Please Confirm