California State University, Chico

HCSV 370: Drugs in Our Society

 

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Holly Nevarez                                                 Phone: 898 – 5013

Office: Butte 647                                                                    Email: hnevarez@csuchico.edu

                                               

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

 

Helpful Readings & Websites:

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

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

·         Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

·         A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

 

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 (3 @ 100 points each)                                             300 points

Discussion project                                                                  100 points

In class work/attendance                                                        100 points

            Total points                                                                             500 points

 

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

 

Discussion project: This is a group project (4 or 5 people per group assigned by the instructor). As a team you will conduct research related to the topic you choose (during the 1st day 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 60-minute class discussion on the topic that you have chosen. Please 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 available 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. This class only meets 12 days. Attendance is required. No credit will be given for assignments turned in after their due date. I do not accept emailed assignments!

 

 

Other Important Notes:

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

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

 

Week               Date                Topic/Assignment                                           Chapter(s)

1                      6/2 – 6/5          Introduction                                                                 1

Explaining drug use & abuse                                     

                                                Is addiction a choice?

                                                Explaining drug use & abuse                                      2

Drug use, regulation, and the law                              

                                                How drugs work in the body and on the mind            3                     

                                                Test #1 at 9:00 on Thursday, 6/5                                        

2                      6/9 – 6/12       

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Test #2 at 10:00 on Thursday, 6/12                                    

3                                            6/16 – 6/19     

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Test #3 at 10:00 on Thursday, 6/19