Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences

39 Drugs and Society

Course Goal:

· Explore drug use and abuse in modern society

· Identify the physiological and psychological effects of legal and illicit drugs

· Review the psychological, and legal aspects of drug use/abuse

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

§ Present the need for public health professionals to integrate theory and culturally competent practice

§ Discuss the basics treatment modalities

§ Examine the manner in which American society produces public policy, information about, and interventions related to drugs, drug users, and drug-related problems

§ Describe how assumptions, beliefs, and theories shape policy, research, treatment, interventions and education/prevention

§ Evaluate the way that social, historical, political, and economic factors effect the changing patterns of substance use across diverse populations

§ Describe the physiological and biochemical aspects of drug use and its impact on individuals and communities

§ Examine the values, ethics and standards of professional behavior consistent with sound public health practice

§ Demonstrate skills for professional public health writing and oral communication

Teaching Methods

· Lecture

· Class discussion

· Role Play exercises

Major Requirements

· Participation in class activities

· Midterm Quiz

· PowerPoint presentation of issue in health counseling

· Paper on presentation topic

· Final examination