California State University, Chico  

Department of Health & Community Services (HCSV)

Drugs in Our Society

370 - 06

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Holly Nevarez

Office: Butte 628                                                                    Phone: 898 – 5013

Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 11am – 12:30       Email: hnevarez@csuchico.edu  

                           Wednesday 9 – 11am

                                               

Course Description

This web-enhanced course is designed to explore relevant issues of alcohol and drug use and abuse in American society. It will serve as an overview of the use and abuse of alcohol, prescription, and street drugs and their personal and societal consequences on the young adult, family, and society. Historical perspectives, legal issues, and decision-making skills regarding drug use will also be addressed.

 

HCSV 370 fulfills the requirements of the General Education Upper Division Theme B: Contemporary Health Issues. You must have already completed 45 units in order for this course to count towards the theme. This course has a 1500 word minimum writing requirement, which is discussed below. All the courses in this theme, including this one:

  • address concepts of well being, health, and disease;
  • focus attention on how class, ethnicity, and gender affect health;
  • teach methods for distinguishing hearsay from valid information;
  • develop knowledge and skills for making effective decisions that enhance health and facilitate understanding of public policy; and
  • address the impact of biology, ethics, morality, politics, economics, and culture on health, health care, and healthy policy.

 

 

Required Textbook:

Hanson, G.R., Venturelli, P.J., & Fleckenstein, A.E. (2006). Drugs and Society (9th ed.) Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN: 0-7637-3732-1

 

 

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Outline the history of drug use in the United States.
  2. Discuss the extent of use of licit and illicit drugs within various populations in the United States.
  3. Outline the cultural influences, including family, peers, and media, on the use of selected drugs.
  4. Describe the nature of characteristics of dependency and addiction.
  5. List the major drug classifications and their physiological effects.
  6. Discuss the social, economic, political, psychological, and pharmacological consequences of drug misuse on US society.
  7. Evaluate current efforts to control drug use and suggest alternative approaches.
  8. Discuss the physiological, social, and treatment aspect of alcohol and tobacco use.
  9. List the major illicit drugs, their prevalence, physiological effects, and treatment strategies.
  10. Discuss the effects of maternal drug use on the fetus.
  11. Discuss the major types of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, their use and misuse, the effects of medical advertising and regulation.
  12. Develop decision-making skills regarding personal alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, abstinence, responsible practices, alternative activities, and positive uses of drugs.

 

Grading, Evaluation, & Assignments

Students have the opportunity to earn 550 points.  Points are earned based on performance in the following areas:

           

Exams (3 @ 100 points each)                                             300 points

            Discussion project                                                                100 points

            Behavioral change journal & paper                           50 points

In class work/homework                                                         50 points

            Total points                                                                           500 points

 

Exams: There will be three exams worth 100 points each.  There will be NO make-up tests given after the scheduled exam date and time.  If you have to miss an exam for ANY reason, you must make arrangements with the instructor & take the make-up test BEFORE the scheduled exam.  Students who miss and exam and contact the instructor afterward will not be allowed to make-up the exam.  Exams will include multiple choice, true/false, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and essay questions and will cover all information present in class and in reading assignments through out the term.  Review sessions and study guides will be provided at the discretion of the instructor.

 

Behavior change journal & paper: This is an individual project. In general, you will be asked to select and activity that you find difficult to stop.  You will agree to forego this activity for at least a week.  You will keep a journal for the week where you record your thoughts, feelings, cravings, or struggles related to stopping this activity. A 2-page paper describing and reflecting on this process will be turned in. Specific guidelines are available on the portal

 

Discussion project: This is a group project (4 people per group). As a team you will conduct research related to the topic you choose (during the 2nd week of class).  You will provide information for and against the topic.  Your group will lead a 25-minute class discussion on the topic that you have chosen. Specific guidelines are available on the portal. 

 

In-class work: At times there will be assignments given in class. You must be present in class the day the work is assigned in order to complete the assignment and receive credit.  No late assignments or make-up assignments will be accepted.

 

Extra Credit: There will be some opportunities for extra credit throughout the semester. These will be announced in class when available.

 

Other Important Notes:

ü      Assignments are due by 5pm on the due date either to me in person or in my department mailbox (Butte 607).

ü      I do not except emailed assignments.

ü      All assignments must be spell-checked and proofread.

ü      The PowerPoint presentation is not available to students. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to get the necessary information/notes from another student.

ü      Grades will be posted on WebCT

 

Grade

Points

Percent

Grade

Points

Percent

A

462.5 – 500

93 – 100

C

362.5 - 382

73 – 76

A-

447.5 - 462

90 – 92

C-

347.5 - 362

70 – 72

B+

432.5 – 447

87 – 89

D+

332.5 - 347

67 – 69

B

412.5 - 432

83 – 86

D

312.5 - 332

63 – 66

B-

397.5 - 412

80 - 82

D-

297.5 - 312

60 – 62

C+

382.5 - 397

77 - 79

F

< 297

< 60

 

The Rules:

  • Students with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations must first register with Disability Services (DSS). Students who have established the appropriate relationship with DSS should notify the instructor so reasonable accommodations can be made in a timely manner.

 

  • CHEATING: The guidelines for the CSU Chico Academic Honesty Policy, as stated in the University Catalog, will be fully adhered to in this course. Cheating of any kind is not viewed favorably by this instructor. If you are caught cheating/plagiarizing on an assignment, test, or any project related to this course, you will immediately FAIL the assignment, test, or project and be reported to Student Judicial Affairs.
    • PLAGIARISM: is considered cheating.  Written work will be checked using turnitin.com.  As with all types of cheating, those who plagiarize will receive an F on the assignment and be reported to Student Judicial Affairs.

 

  • CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Appropriate classroom behavior is expected of the instructor and all students. Inappropriate and disruptive classroom behavior including inappropriate language and gestures, class disruptions, disrespect to other students or instructor, and other behavior as determined by the instructor will not be tolerated and will result in possible removal from the class and/or disciplinary action as per the university catalog.

 

  • CELL PHONES: Cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode during class.  Students using cell phones during class will be asked to leave.

Week              Date                            Topic/Assignment                                 Chapter(s)

1                      8/23                            Introduction                                                    1

                                                                                                           

2                      8/30                            Explaining drug use & abuse                       2

 

3                      9/6                               Drug use, regulation, and the law                3

 

4                      9/13                            Homeostatis systems and drugs                 4

(pgs 120 - 122 – not comprehensive)

How and why drugs work                             5

 

5                      9/20                            Exam #1

                                                            Guest Speaker or video

 

6                      9/27                            CNS Depressants                                        6

Alcohol                                                           7                     

 

7                      10/4                            Alcohol                                                           8

                                                            Discussion Project day #1

 

8                      10/11                          Narcotics                                                        9

                                                            Stimulants                                                      10

 

9                      10/18                          Hallucinogens                                                12
                                                           

10                    10/25                          Inhalants                                                         14

Discussion Project day #2

 

11                    11/1                            Exam #2

                                                            Guest Speaker or video

 

12                    11/8                            No class, outside assignment

 

13                    11/15                          Tobacco                                                         11

Discussion Project day #3

Behavior change journal & paper due

 

14                    11/22                          No class, Thanksgiving Break, Enjoy!

 

15                    11/29                          Marijuana                                                       13

                                                            OTC, prescription, and herbal drugs          15

 

16                    12/6                            Drug abuse within major subcultures          16

                                    Discussion Project day #4

 

12/11 (M)                   Final Exam   12 – 1:50p     in our regular classroom