Course Syllabus

Course: HUM104 Substance Abuse

Prerequisites:  None

Hours/Credits: 45 class hours, 4.5 quarter credits

Method of Delivery: Online

Text: Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society

Author: Charles F. Levinthal

Edition: Eighth

ISBN: 978-0205959334

Method of Instruction: The asynchronous learning system will provide students with the convenience of accessing the course at a time and place convenient to them. It also allows the instructor and students to have more interaction, accessibility in a collaborative learning environment.  

Course Description: This course is designed to help students examine illicit drug use, abuse, and addiction in the United States from the medical and sociological perspectives. The course provides students with background information for understanding the current state of illicit drug use and the prevalence of drug abuse. In addition, students examine the different types of drugs abused by the public, the criminal connection to illicit drugs, and the application of laws and therapies to curb illicit use.

 Performance Objectives:

• Describe the signs of drug-taking behavior including, use, misuse, and abuse and apply different approaches to treatment.
• Demonstrate familiarity with the laws regulating the use of illicit drugs and the clinical management of drug abuse.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of drug action and its behavioral and physiological effects.
• Apply cultural competence in conjunction with psychological principles when dealing with personal, social or organizational issues.
• Engage in critical thinking to solve problems related to behavior and mental processes.
• Analyze the motivational variables that contribute to drug-seeking behavior to assess and treat clients.
• Apply knowledge about the role played by psychoactive drugs in treating different diseases and conditions that affect the brain in careers in the healthcare field.
• Explain how psychoactive drugs affect the brain using jargon-free language.
• Apply research methods to analyze how drug abuse affects the brain.
• Demonstrate ethical practice that upholds the underpinnings of the science of psychology.

Grade Determination: All tests and assigned projects are graded against a 100% system. Discussion grades are averaged and account for 30% of the final grade. Written assignment grades are averaged and account for 40% of the final grade. Quiz and exam grades are averaged and account for 30% of the final grade. All course assignments and calculated final grades are graded against a 100% system which is assigned a letter grade and a grade point average according to this chart.

Requirements for successful completion: In order to receive credit for this course, the student must earn a minimum of 60%.

Outside Preparation/Required Homework: 

Total required outside work required – 90 hours. The hours applied to each assignment were determined based on standard formulas to include (if applicable) reading with comprehension, outline completion, minutes/question, minutes/case study or critical thinking question; minutes/code determination and reports to include research, rough draft and final draft.

1 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 1, Drugs and Behavior Today (67.5 Minutes)
2 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 2, Drug-Taking Behavior: Personal and Social Issues (80 Minutes)
3 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 3, How Drugs Work in the Body and on the Mind (72.5 Minutes)
4 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 1, Drugs and Behavior Today (60 Minutes)
5 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 2, Drug-Taking Behavior: Personal and Social Issues (60 Minutes)
6 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 3, How Drugs Work in the Body and on the Mind (60 Minutes)
7 Shared Writing: What is Drug Abuse? (15 Minutes)
8 Chapter 1 Practice Quiz: Drugs and Behavior Today (60 Minutes)
9 Shared Writing: Drugs and the ED (60 Minutes)
10 Chapter 2 Practice Quiz: Drug-Taking Behavior: Personal and Social Issues (15 Minutes)
11 Shared Writing: The Brain (60 Minutes)
12 Chapter 3 Practice Quiz: How Drugs Work in the Body and on the Mind (15 Minutes)
13 Discussion 1.0 Introduction to Substance Abuse (135 Minutes)
14 Discussion 1.1 Social Messages (135 Minutes)
15 Assignment 1.2 Drugs Around the World (240 Minutes)
16 Assignment 1.3 Recreational Drugs on the Brain (240 Minutes)
17 Unit 1 Quiz (120 Minutes)
18 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 4, The Major Stimulants: Cocaine and Amphetamines (72.5 Minutes)
19 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 4, The Major Stimulants: Cocaine and Amphetamines (60 Minutes)
20 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 5, Opioids: Opium, Heroin, and Opioid Pain Medications (72.5 Minutes)
21 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 5, Opioids: Opium, Heroin, and Opioid Pain Medications (60 Minutes)
22 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 6, LSD and Other Hallucinogens (62.5 Minutes)
23 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 6, LSD and Other Hallucinogens (60 Minutes)
24 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 7, Marijuana (60 Minutes)
25 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 7, Marijuana (60 Minutes)
26 Discussion 2.0 Acute and Chronic Effects of Cocaine (135 Minutes)
27 Discussion 2.1 Medical Uses of Opioid Drugs (135 Minutes)
28 Assignment 2.3 Miscellaneous Hallucinogens (240 Minutes)
29 Assignment 2.4 Legalization or Decriminalization of Marijuana in the United States (240 Minutes)
30 Chapter 4 Practice Quiz: The Major Stimulants: Cocaine and Amphetamines (60 Minutes)
31 Shared Writing: Drugs on the Mind and Body (15 Minutes)
32 Chapter 5 Practice Quiz: Opioids: Opium, Heroin, and Opioid Pain Medications (60 Minutes)
33 Shared Writing: LSD (15 Minutes)
34 Chapter Practice 6 Quiz: LSD and Other Hallucinogens (60 Minutes)
35 Shared Writing: Marijuana Smokers (15 Minutes)
36 Chapter 7 Practice Quiz: Marijuana (60 Minutes)
37 Unit 2 Quiz (120 Minutes)
38 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 8, Alcohol: Social Beverage/Social Drug (60 Minutes)
39 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 8, Alcohol: Social Beverage/Social Drug (60 Minutes)
40 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 9, Chronic Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (72.5 Minutes)
41 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 9, Chronic Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (60 Minutes)
42 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 10, Nicotine and Tobacco Use (67.5 Minutes)
43 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 10, Nicotine and Tobacco Use (60 Minutes)
44 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 11, Caffeine (45 Minutes)
45 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 11, Caffeine (60 Minutes)
46 Discussion 3.0 Effects of Alcohol on the Brain (135 Minutes)
47 Discussion 3.1 Alcoholism: Stereotypes, Definitions, and Life Problems (135 Minutes)
48 Assignment 3.2 The Dangers of Tabaco (240 Minutes)
49 Assignment 3.3 Caffeine and the Consumer (240 Minutes)
50 Shared Writing: Americans and Alchohol (15 Minutes)
51 Chapter 8 Pracitce Quiz: Alcohol: Social Beverage/Social Drug (60 Minutes)
52 Shared Writing: Alcohol and the Workplace (15 Minutes)
53 Chapter 9 PracticeQuiz: Chronic Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (60 Minutes)
54 Chapter 10 Practice Quiz: Nicotine and Tobacco Use (60 Minutes)
55 Chapter 11 Practice Quiz: Caffeine (60 Minutes)
56 Unit 3 Quiz (120 Minutes)
57 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 12,  Performance- Enhancing Drugs and Drug Testing in Sports (57.5 Minutes)
58 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 12,  Performance- Enhancing Drugs and Drug Testing in Sports (60 Minutes)
59 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 13, Depressants and Inhalants (60 Minutes)
60 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 13, Depressants and Inhalants (60 Minutes)
61 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 14, Prescription Drugs, Over-the-Counter Drugs, and Dietary Supplements (57.5 Minutes)
62 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 14, Prescription Drugs, Over-the-Counter Drugs, and Dietary Supplements (60 Minutes)
63 Shared Writing: Pharmaceutical Company Corruption? (15 Minutes)
64 Chapter 12 Practice Quiz: Performance-Enhancing Drugs and Drug Testing in Sports (60 Minutes)
65 Shared Writing: Protective Strategies (15 Minutes)
66 Chapter 13 Practice Quiz: Depressants and Inhalants (60 Minutes)
67 Shared Writing: Dosages and Side Effects (15 Minutes)
68 Chapter 14 Practice Quiz: Prescription Drugs, Over-the-Counter Drugs, and Dietary Supplements (60 Minutes)
69 Discussion 4.0 Nonsteroid Hormones and Performance-Enhancing Supplements (135 Minutes)
70 Discussion 4.1 The Risks of GHB (135 Minutes)
71 Assignment 4.2 Depressant Drugs, Marketing, and Consequences (240 Minutes)
72 Assignment 4.3 Dietary Supplements (240 Minutes)
73 Unit 4 Quiz (120 Minutes)
74 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 15, Drugs for Treating Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders (42.5Minutes)
75 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 15, Drugs for Treating Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders (60 Minutes)
76 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 16, Substance-Abuse Prevention (70 Minutes)
77 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 16, Substance-Abuse Prevention (60 Minutes)
78 Read Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 17, Substance-Abuse Treatment: Strategies for Change (60 Minutes)
79 Chapter Audio Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8e, Chapter 17, Substance-Abuse Treatment: Strategies for Change (60 Minutes)
80 Shared Writing: Drugs and Civil Liberties (15 Minutes)
81 Chapter 15 Practice Quiz: Drugs for Treating Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders (60 Minutes)
82 Shared Writing: Drugs and the Fifth Amendment (15 Minutes)
83 Chapter 16 Practice Quiz: Substance Abuse Prevention (60 Minutes)
84 Chapter 17 Practice Quiz: Substance-Abuse Treatment: Strategies for Change (60 Minutes)
85 Discussion 5.0 Drugs Used to Treat Depression (135 Minutes)
86 Discussion 5.1 Multicultural Issues in Primary and Secondary Prevention (135 Minutes)
87 Assignment 5.2 The Family System and Substance Abuse (240 Minutes)
88 Assignment 5.3 Substance-Abuse Treatment in Prison (240 Minutes)
89 Unit 5 Quiz (120 Minutes)