California State University, Chico

HCSV 370 - 05: Drugs in Our Society

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Holly Nevarez                                                 Phone: 898 – 5013

Office: Butte 647                                                                    Email: hnevarez@csuchico.edu

Office Hours: Wednesdays from 8:30am to noon. Tuesdays from 12:30 – 1:45pm                      

                        Also by appointment

           

 

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:

·         Levinthal, Charles F. (2006). Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearon Publishers. ISBN 13: 978-0-205-48329-7

·         Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

 

Helpful Readings & Websites:

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

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

·         A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

·         Tweak: Growing up on methamphetamines by Nic Sheff

 

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

           

Quizzes (4 @ 75 points each)                                               300 points

Discussion project                                                                  100 points

Behavior Change Journal & Paper                                           50 points

Beautiful Boy                                                                             50 points

In class work/attendance                                                          50 points

            Total points                                                                             550 points

 

 

Exams: There will be four 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.  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, and/or struggles related to stopping this activity. A 3-page paper describing and reflecting on this process will be turned in. Specific guidelines are on Vista.

 

 

Discussion project: This is a group project (4 or 5 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 basic information on the topic you have chosen as well as two sides of a societal issue related to this topic.  Your group will lecture and lead a 45-minute class discussion on the topic that you have chosen. Do not lecture the entire time. Creativity is a plus. Involving your classmates is required. 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 on Vista. 

 

 

Beautiful Boy: Each week you are assigned reading from the book Beautiful Boy. We will begin class each week with a discussion from the reading. Your participation in this discussion will be noted and will affect your grade. Once we have finished the book you will be asked to write a reflection paper. Details on this paper will be on Vista.

 

In class work/attendance: Occasionally homework or in class work will be assigned in class. You must be present in class when the work is assigned in order to complete the assignment and receive credit. Assignments are due by 4:30 pm on the due date either to me in person or in my department mailbox (Butte 607). Assignments turned in after their due date will get 20% of the grade deducted for EACH weekday that the assignment is late. Therefore, an assignment will be worth 0 points if it is turned in 5 days late. I do not accept emailed assignments!

 

 

Other Important Notes:

ü      Grades will be based on a plus/minus system.

ü      Assignments are due by 4:30pm 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, if they are not, points will be deducted.

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 Vista

 

 

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 or texting during class will be asked to leave.

 

Content

 

Dates                                      Topic/Assignment                                           Chapter(s)

 

1/27 & 1/29                              Introduction                                                                 1

                                               Explaining drug use & abuse                                                  

2/3 & 2/5                                  Beautiful Boy   (T)                                           pgs 1- 28

Is addiction a choice?

                                                Explaining drug use & abuse                                      2         

2/10 & 2/12                              Start Behavior Change during this week

Beautiful Boy   (T)                                           pgs 29 - 65

Drug use, regulation, and the law                              

                                                How drugs work in the body and on the mind            3         

2/17                                         Beautiful Boy   (T)                                           pgs 66- 94

2/19                                         Test #1                                                                                  

 

 

 

The remainder of the topics and readings will be determined during

the second week of class based on your interests.

 

 

3/5                                           Behavior Change Journal & Paper Due                          

5/12 & 5/14                              Prevention & Treatment (continued)

 

Test #4 (Final Exam) Thursday, May 21st 10:00 – 11:50