California State University, Chico

Drugs in Our Society: 370 – 05 (MWF 11:00)

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Holly Nevarez                                                 Phone: 898 – 5013

Office: Butte 628                                                                    Email: hnevarez@csuchico.edu

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday from 10 – 11am

                          Tuesday 9 – 11 am

                                               

Course Description

This 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

 

Recommended Readings:

Hanson, G.R., Venturelli, P.J., & Fleckenstein, A.E. (2006). Student study guide to accompany:: Drugs and Society. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN:0-7637-3755-0

 

Helpful Websites:

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.nida.nih.gov

Jones & Bartlett Publishers: http://drugsandsociety.jbpub.com/9e

 

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 625 points.  Points are earned based on performance in the following areas:

           

Quizzes (5 @ 75 points each)                                               375 points

            Discussion project                                                                  100 points

            Behavioral change journal & paper                                           50 points

In class work/homework                                                         100 points

            Total points                                                                             625 points

 

Exams: There will be five quizzes worth 75 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 throughout the term.  Review sessions and study guides will be provided at the discretion of the instructor.

 

Behavior change journal & paper: In general, you will be asked to select an activity that you find difficult to stop.  You will agree to forego this activity for at least two weeks.  You will keep a journal during your abstinence where you record your thoughts, feelings, cravings, or struggles related to stopping this activity. A 3-page paper describing and reflecting on this process will be turned in. Specific guidelines are available on Vista.

 

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 1st week of class).  You will provide information for and against the topic.  Your group will lead a 20-minute class discussion on the topic that you have chosen. You will also write a brief individual paper, complete a peer evaluation, and participate in writing an annotated bibliography for this assignment. Specific guidelines are available on Vista. 

 

Other work: Homework will be assigned 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.

 

Grade

Points

Percent

Grade

Points

Percent

A

578.1 - 625

93 - 100

C

452.8 - 477.7

73 - 76

A-

559.1 - 578

90 - 92

C-

434.1 - 452.7

70 - 72

B+

540.3 - 559

87 - 89

D+

415.3 - 434.0

67 - 69

B+

515.3 - 540.2

83 - 86

D+

371.6 - 415.2

60 - 66

B-

496.5 - 515.2

80 - 82

F

371.50

<60

C+

477.8 - 496.4

77 - 79

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

The Rules:

  • Students with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations must first register with Disability Services (DSS).

 

  • CHEATING: The guidelines for the CSU Chico Academic Honesty Policy, as stated in the University Catalog, will be fully adhered to in this course. If you are caught cheating/plagiarizing on an assignment, test, or 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. 

 

  • CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Appropriate classroom behavior is expected of 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                      1/22 - 1/26       Introduction                                                                 1

                                                Explaining drug use & abuse                                      2

2                      1/29 - 2/2         Debate: Is drug addiction a choice?

                                               Drug use, regulation, and the law                                3

3                      2/5                   Debate: Recreational drug use causes crime

2/7                   No Class: Group debate preparation

2/9                  Homeostatis systems and drugs                               4(p120-122)

                                                How and why drugs work                                           5

4                      2/12                 How and why drugs work                                           5 continued

2/14                 Quiz #1

                        2/16                 Drug abuse w/in major sub cultures                          16

5                      2/19                  Behavior change journal & paper due

Debates: All students should be randomly drug tested

                                                        Professional athletes should be tested for performance drugs

2/21                  No Class:  Group debate preparation

                        2/23                 OTC & prescription drugs                                          15

6                      2/26                 OTC & prescription drugs                                          15 continued

Debate: Prescription drug advertising should not be allowed

                        2/28 – 3/2        Herbal drugs                                                               15 continued

                                                Debate: Herbal drugs should be regulated by the FDA

                                                Caffeine                                                                       10(p308–313)

                                                Debate: The consequences of caffeine out weight the benefits

7                      3/5                   Quiz #2

3/7– 3/9           Tobacco                                                                      11

                                                Debates: Smoking laws infringe on civil rights

                                                            Adverse effects of smoking are exaggerated

8                      3/12                 Tobacco                                                                      11continued

3/14 - 16          Alcohol                                                                        7, 8

                                                Debate: Drinking age should be lower than 21

9                      3/19 – 3/26      Spring Break

 

10                    3/26 – 3/30      Alcohol                                                                        7, 8 continued

Debates: Penalties for drunk drivers are unfair

                                                           Alcohol ads influence young people to drink more

11                    4/2                   Quiz #3

                        4/4– 4/6           Marijuana                                                                     13

12                    4/9 - 4/13         Marijuana                                                                     13 continued

Debates: Marijuana should be legalized

                                                          Marijuana is less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol

13                    4/16 – 4/20      CNS Depressants                                                      6

                                                Narcotics                                                                     9

14                    4/23                 Narcotics                                                                     9 continued

Debate: Needle exchange programs

4/25                 Quiz #4

                        4/27                 Stimulants                                                                   10

15                    4/30 – 5/4        Stimulants                                                                   10 continued

Hallucinogens                                                             12

                                                Inhalants                                                                      14       

16                    5/7 - 5/11         Prevention                                                                   17

                        Debate: Prevention Programs do not work

 

Final Exam      5/14 (M)           Final Exam     12 – 1:50pm