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Substance Use Disorders

All Postgraduate Programs and Courses

Education4 Semester (120 ECTS)

Language of study Englisch

Next startOctober 2025

Costs 16.000,-

ManagementProf. Harald H. Sitte, Prof. Matthäus Willeit

TagsPsychiatry; Psychotherapy; Pharmacology; Toxicology; Neurobiology; Public Health; Prevention; Alcohol Use Disorder; Opioid Use Disorder; Addiction; New Psychoactive Substances; Psychedelics; Amphetamine; Cocaine; Cannabis; Cathinones

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Master Course in Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

The University Master Course in “Substance Use Disorders” addresses an increasingly important societal and clinical phenomenon and aims to provide participating students with a rational and evidence-based approach to substance use itself and people with SUD. The Master Course will cover psychiatric, pharmacological, neuroscientific, and social aspects of SUD. In addition, it will convey evidence-based knowledge about genuine and avoidable medical consequences and withdrawal from individual substances, about the legal basis for dealing with addictive or psychotropic substances, and about intoxication and its sequelae. A practical part as well as the application of scientific methods for the development of the master thesis will complete the training.

The University Master Course "Substance Use Disorders” (SUD; Master of Science, Continuing Education; subsequently referred to as MC SUD) aims to provide a rational and evidence-based approach to substance use itself and people with SUD. Attending MC SUD is possible alongside full-time employment. The course is designed to enable graduates to recognize the differences and similarities between the many manifestations of SUD and to assess and classify the relevance of typical and frequently occurring problems in connection with SUD. The science-based knowledge imparted in the course is intended to contribute in its entirety to preventing individual suffering, consequential damage and the burden on relatives and social institutions involved with SUD.

The in-service course is aimed at all those who wish to study the psychiatric, pharmacological, neuroscientific and social basis of SUD, and who can thereby contribute directly or indirectly to the improved care of people with SGS in the context of their scientific or professional activities. The course is also aimed at all those who are involved with individuals suffering from SUD and its social implications in their professional work, for example in the educational or legal fields, and who seek a scientific approach to SUD-mediated effects as well as consequential effects.

The course aims to provide basic and evidence-based knowledge about genuine and avoidable medical risks of use and withdrawal of individual substances, legal principles in dealing with addictive or psychotropic substances, intoxications, basics of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, psychopathology and psychiatric comorbidities, preventive measures and measures to avoid complications (for example, the occurrence of delirium or viral diseases such as hepatitis B and C or HIV), or dealing with substance use in pregnancy.

The offered curriculum including its evidence-based approaches are taught at a high scientific level. For this purpose, an international committee of recognized specialists from both the basic scientific and also the clinical field will be involved to ensure the scientific approach in connection with practical knowledge.

Medizinische Universität Wien

Postgraduate Program Substance Use Disorders (SUD)

Spitalgasse 23
1090 Wien

E-Mail: mc-sud@meduniwien.ac.at