COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Overview of drug use (both personal and social) in contemporary society, including historical perspective, drug metabolism, drug action/classification, legal issues, reasons for abuse, and drug abuse prevention strategies.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This introductory course will emphasize two broad areas:

   1. Facts and hypotheses about physiological, psychological and social causes and effects of drug
       use and abuse; and

   2. Values clarification regarding drug-taking behavior.

The emphasis on these two areas is based upon the presupposition that effective drug education requires, at a minimum, information about how drugs work on the body, as well as the opportunity for students to become more acquainted with, and to explore, their and other's beliefs about drug use. By the end of the course, students should be able to make choices about drug use based upon a more thorough understanding of what the likely short-term and long-term consequences will be. In addition, students will be able to describe a drug prevention or treatment program.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Ray Oakley and Charles Ksir (1999). Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior,8th Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

EVALUATION - ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS:

PERSONAL ASSESSMENT..................................................................................................................50 POINTS

Objective: Each student will explore their experiences, attitudes, values, beliefs, pre-course education regarding drugs and drug use.

Requirements: A minimum three (3) page typewritten assessment that addresses ALL of the following:

1. Your definition of a drug.
2. Your family history with drugs.
3. Your personal experience with drugs.
4. Personal consequences (both good and bad) as a result of drug use.
5. In regards to drug use, your "learning moments."
6. Your beliefs and values regarding drug use.
7. Your major concern(s) regarding drug use.

FOUR EXAMINATIONS.......................................................................................................................400 POINTS

FINAL PAPER........................................................................................................................................100 POINTS

Objective: To explore one major controversial topic regarding drugs and/or drug use.

Requirement: A minimum six (6) page typewritten report on one of the following subjects. You may present a "Pro Argument" and/or a "Con Argument." In addition, you MUST present your own position.

* Should illegal drugs be legalized?
* Does lowering the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) really save lives?
* Is the "War on Drugs" working?
* Do needle exchange programs work?
* Should pregnant women who use drugs be punished?
* Do you support the "Smoking Ban" in Tucson restaurants?
* Does the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program work?
* How affective is the "12-step Program"? And what are the alternatives?
* How common is over-the-counter drug abuse?

TEN (10) UNANNOUNCED QUIZZES...............................................................................................100 POINTS
10 points possible for each quiz; NO MAKE-UPS

..............................................................................................................................................TOTAL:    650 POINTS

GRADING:
                 A = 650 - 585
                B = 584 - 520
                 C = 519 - 455
                 D = 454 - 390
                 E  < 389

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

     DATE                                                               TOPIC                                 ASSIGNMENT