PUBH A202: Drugs, Health, and Society
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 10/16/2024 |
| Top Code | 083700 - Health Education |
| Units | 3 Total Units |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Open Entry/Open Exit | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
Examination of the use, misuse and abuse of drugs, both licit and illicit, in American society and the pharmacologic, neurologic and physiologic effects of selected substances on the human brain. Includes psychosocial, legal, historical, political, social, economic and health related aspects; drug dependency, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention education. Focuses on the impact of psychoactive drugs on the individual and society, including the epidemiology and toxicology of substance abuse and its relevance to personal and public health. Epidemiologic data on the prevalence, incidence, and trends of smoking, alcohol, prescription and other drug dependencies in the U.S. will be covered, as well as risk factors associated with the use and abuse of these substances. Current options for recovery and a survey of local resources will be reviewed. Enrollment Limitation: HLED A122; students who complete PUBH A202 may not enroll in or receive credit for HLED A122. ADVISORY: Eligibility for ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: PHS 103.C-ID: PHS 103.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Describe the impact that psychoactive drug abuse and addiction has on the individual, the family and the society.
- Develop drug abuse prevention strategies, including prioritization of specific drugs as related to target populations.
- Evaluate the history and development of the drug policy in America, including current drug policy though discussion and current events.
Course Objectives
- 1. Explain the impact of drug use on American society.
- 2. Identify major legislation that formed our current drug policies.
- 3. Evaluate how social attitude and opinion shape our acceptance of drug use.
- 4. Analyze the current public health perspective on the issue of substance abuse, including broad political, social and economic factors related to substance abuse.
- 5. Compare and contrast the theories of addiction to demonstrate understanding of each theory.
- 6. Assess drug prevention program to devise and effective program based on research evidence.
- 7. Describe the psychotherapeutic benefits (if any) and harmful effects of common substances of abuse, and identify the populations most at risk of using these substances.
- 8. Distinguish the difference between drug use, misuse and abuse and evaluate how we use, misuse and abuse prescription and over the counter medications.
- 9. Identify the factors associated with the use of specific substances of abuse, including populations at most risk based on age, sex, education, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race and age at first initiation.
- 10. Name major structures of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
- 11. Describe how neurotransmitters work and their involvement in the brain?s reward circuit.
- 12. Describe the neurological and physiological responses to drug use, short and long term consequences
- 13. Distinguish between responsible drinking, problem drinking and alcoholism.
- 14. Design a strategy to reduce their risk of alcohol poisoning or other alcohol related problems including sexual assault and violence.
- 15. Examine theories of alcoholism and appraise sobriety programs including outpatient and step programs.
- 16. Recognize the health related hazards of cigarette smoke.
- 17. Compare the acute and chronic effects of marijuana with those of alcohol and tobacco smoking.
- 18. Explain the acute and chronic effects of stimulants, including caffeine, cocaine and amphetamines.
- 19. Describe the acute and chronic effects of the major classes of drugs including depressants, inhalants, narcotics, and hallucinogens.
- 20. Interpret reliable public data sources to find statistical and epidemiologic data on incidence, prevalence, and trends in drug, tobacco and alcohol use.
- 21. Analyze arguments on both sides of a selected controversial issue, such as drug testing in the work place or legalization of marijuana.
Lecture Content
Drug use, misuse, abuse, and dependence Patterns of use, misuse, and abuse Progression Addiction/Drug dependency Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMR) Risk factors Pharmacological classifications Depressants, including sedative-hypnotics Stimulants Opiates Anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs Marijuana Alcohol Nicotine Prescription medications Over-the-counter (OTC) Inhalants Hallucinogens Effects of drug use, misuse, abuse, and dependence Short-term and long-term effects Biological/Physiological Neurological Psychological Social impact Individual Community Society Epidemiological data Usage Incidence Prevalence Trends Dependency Incidence Prevalence Trends Populations at risk Age Gender Education and socioeconomic status Race and ethnicity LGBTQ+ Laws, Policies, and Regulations Social policies and laws Treatment versus incarceration Homelessness Scheduling of drugs (DEA) Enforcement and regulations Laws and government regulations Legal distribution Illegal distribution Economics The War on Illegal Drugs Sales and profit of legal drugs Cost of law enforcement Marketing Pharmaceutical industry False advertising Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment Protective factors Signs and symptoms Mental illnesses Dual Diagnosis/Co-Occurring Disorders Evidence-based treatment strategies Community resources
Lab Content
There is no lab associated with this course.
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
Lecture, discussion, media, computer demonstration, Internet exploration.
Reading Assignments
Student will spend approximately 2 - 3 hours a week reading assigned chapters from texts and selected handouts
Writing Assignments
The students will spend approximately 2 - 3 hours a week researching and writing papers related to course topics. They will also visit 12-step meeting and prepare evaluations of their experience. They will also be responsible for a variety of other topical assignments.
Out-of-class Assignments
Agency investigation 12-step meeting evaluation Over the counter label study Various current event papers Other assignments per course instructor
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Objective written exams, class projects, problem solving exercises, current event evaluations, internet assignments and participation.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Objective written exams, class projects, problem solving exercises. Agency investigation. 12-step meeting evaluation. Over the counter label study. Various current event papers. Other written assignments per instructor
Eligible Disciplines
Health: Master's degree in health science, health education, biology, nursing, physical education, kinesiology, exercise science, dietetics, or nutrition OR bachelor's degree in any of the above AND master's degree in public health, or any biological science OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Hanson, G. Venturelli, P.. Drugs and Society, 14th ed. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2020 Rationale: - 2. Required Hart, C. Ksir, C.. Drugs, Society and Human Behavior , 15th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Humanities, 2012 Rationale: -
Other Resources
1. Selected handout materials will be provided and distributed by the instructor.