ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
HUS 2403: Abused Substances and Their Effects
Fall Semester 2017
3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Nancy Teten, LCSW, CAP
Department: Human Services
E-mail: ***Please email me in the SPC MY COURSES
online course ***
Office Hours: By Appointment
Program Office: (727) 341-3736 or (727) 341-3670
For emergencies only: (813) 758-3103
I will make every attempt to respond to your emails and phone calls the same day. I will be sure to respond within 24 hours.
If you have an emergency, please call the Human Services Program Director, Cheryl Kerr at (727) 341-3736 or email: . Dr. Kerr will get your urgent message to me.
Course Description:
Pre- or co-requisite: SYG 2324. This course is a comprehensive survey of abused substances and their impact on the human body and upon society. The pathophysiological effects of substance abuse are emphasized while historical, legal, medical, social, and ethical issues are reviewed. The classes of drugs examined include major and minor tranquilizers, sedatives and hypnotics, narcotics, stimulants, and hallucinogens. The primary focus will be upon heroin, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.
REQUIRED TEXT: Drugs & Society – 13th Edition; ISBN-13 978-1284110876; Hanson, G.R., Venturelli, P.J., and Fleckenstein, A.E, Sudbury, MA, Jones & Bartlett, 2014).
MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of addiction
from the physiological, biochemical, cultural and psychological perspectives.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacology of alcohol
and drugs and the pathophysiological effects of substance abuse on the human body.
3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and legal aspects
of drug usage.
4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of current respected methods of
prevention, education, treatment and rehabilitation in substance abuse.
COURSE OBJECTIVES STATED IN PERFORMANCE TERMS:
1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of addiction
from the physiological, biochemical, cultural and psychological perspectives by:
a. explaining who takes drugs and why including patterns of abuse and the
nature of the drug experience.
b. describing how drugs work on the human mind and body.
c. summarizing the drug taxonomy.
d. reviewing routes of drug administration.
e. outlining medical problems of substance abusers not caused by drugs and
alcohol.
f. summarizing factors influencing response to drugs including:
(1) placebo effect
(2) dose of drug
(3) experience, social setting
(4) psychological susceptibility.
g. reviewing psychological and physical dependence.
h. reviewing tolerance and consequences of prolonged abuse.
i. discussing the history of herbal drugs including the history of medicinal and
psychoactive herbs.
j. reviewing genetic implications of substance abuse.
k. reviewing patterns of multiple drug usage.
l. reviewing the medical diagnosis of substance abuse including:
(1) personal history and physical examination
(2) vital and other signs based on, for example: blood pressure, respiration,
pulse rate, temperature, integument, lymph nodes, eyes, nose, mouth,
throat, neck, chest, heart, abdomen, kidney, genito-urinary system, and
nervous system
(3) laboratory detection including routine procedures and detection of
drugs in blood or urine.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacology of alcohol
and drugs and the pathophysiological effects of substance abuse on the human body by:
a. summarizing, where appropriate to the particular category of substance
under discussion, the following data:
(1) patterns of use of the substance
(2) distribution, metabolism, absorption, and excretion of the substance
(3) tolerance, physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal
from the substance
(4) morbidity and mortality including acute and chronic toxicity of the
substance
(5) persistent and acute adverse effects of the substance
(6) methods of administration of the substance
(7) frequency, dosage and duration of usage of the substance
(8) interaction of the substance and various systems of the body including
(but not limited to) excretory, gastrointestinal, neurological,
circulatory, and reproductive systems
(9) history and taxonomy of the substance.
b. reviewing the following substances:
(1) over-the-counter and prescription drugs including self-medication and
abuse potential
(2) unrecognized drugs including xanthines, food additives, nitrous oxide,
spices and flower seeds
(3) tobacco and special risk populations
(4) alcohol
(5) narcotics: including heroin, opium, and synthetics
(6) Marijuana and hashish
(7) psychedelics and deliriants
(8) barbiturates and other sedatives and hypnotics
(9) stimulants including amphetamines and cocaine
(10) miscellaneous substances including coffee, tea, cola, glue.
3. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and legal aspects
of drug usage by:
a. explaining the dynamics of regulation, including drug development and
marketing and the role of the FDA.
b. discussing drug law enforcement and the regulation of drug paraphernalia.
c. examining the recreational use of drugs and the need to alter consciousness.
d. investigating the rationales for responsible use of substances and the right to
decide usage and non-usage.
e. reviewing drug abuse and American Federal Law.
f. outlining the English and Swedish systems.
4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of current respected methods of
prevention, education, treatment and rehabilitation in substance abuse by:
a. discussing models of drug abuse prevention.
b. determining critical errors in prevention efforts.
c. discussing alternative models of prevention.
d. classifying users and abusers.
e. outlining the history of drug education approaches.
f. discussing the role of the media in education.
g. reviewing the history of treatment and rehabilitation;
h. discussing current methods of treatment and rehabilitation;
i. interpreting rehabilitation techniques based on field experiences at AA/NA
meetings.
Teaching Methods:
This course utilizes an on-line lecture/discussion format. Other methods to facilitate learning will be used including, but not limited to, class exercises and discussions and student project presentations via discussion boards. Class participation through responding to learner and instructor discussion posts in a respectful manner is expected. Additionally, expressing yourself through well-written, substantive discussion board responses and through other interaction/correspondence is required.
Course Requirements
1. Class attendance and participation policy:
SPC requires 1st and 2nd week attendance, as well as, the 60% attendance rule. You will automatically be dropped from the course if you do not attend either the 1st or 2nd week of class or have not attended by the 60% attendance reporting period. However, regular, if not daily participation is required. On-line learning can be more difficult than a traditional course because of the major reliance on you the on-line learner being organized and self-motivated. All discussion questions, unless otherwise, noted, will be due each Sunday by 11:55 pm EST. You will be required to answer 1 of 2 Discussion Questions and respond to TWO other learner's discussion posting, unless otherwise noted, by Sunday by 11:55 pm EST. If you have not posted either your answer to the discussion question and your feedback to your TWO peer’s responses you will be locked out, and you will receive ZERO points for this assignment.
All discussion posts and peer feedback must be each at least 100 words in length.
The MINIMUM POSTS AND PEER FEEDBACKS ARE AT LEAST 100 WORDS IN LENGTH. Discussion posts that fail to meet the minimum requirements will be given a ZERO. When providing feedback to your peers offer more then "great work," or "fabulous posting." It is acceptable to give your fellow peers positive words of encouragement, however you should also include feedback that is substantive, in so much that it is a dialog that includes direction in which the learner shares suggestions or insights that might have been missed, or might enhance the discussion on the problem at hand.ONLY count the words that are directly related to what you have earned in the week’s lesson – DO NOT COUNT kudos to other students; ONLY COUNT the substantive feedback. POST YOUR WORD COUNT IN EACH POST!
If you refer to outside sources or websites within your discussion answers or posts, you will be required to use APA current edition citations. You must cite all references and ideas that are not your own using the APA style format. If you do not follow this format to cite your sources, your work will be considered plagiarized. Any plagiarized work will be given a zero and the incident will be referred to the Program Director. Remember if you have a question on proper citation usage, please ask your instructor for assistance or consult with your librarian.
Attendance:
If you are requesting an excused absence due to an emergency or extenuating circumstance you must submit the proper documentation to verify the reason for your absence. The instructor must be notified as soon as possible, preferably before missing the class.
Grading Policy:
· A minimum grade of “C”is required for successful completion of this class as well as all other General Education courses, Support courses, and Major courses for the Human Services program.
Grading Procedures
Grading will be based upon the acquired knowledge of the course content as evidenced by timely discussion and learner feedback posts, completion of all of the course assignments, and successful completion of weekly quizzes, mid-term and final exams.
Grading Scale Class Components
A =90-100 Discussion Questions 25%
B =80-89 Peer Responses 25%
C =70-79 Quizzes 25%
D =60-69 Mid–term & Final Exams 25%
F =59 and below
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: Semester is August 14 – December 8, 2017
8/18/2017– Last day to drop, receive a refund, or change to audit status,REGULAR
8/25/2017– Last day to drop, receive a refund, or change to audit status, WEEKEND
9/15/2017 – Last day to drop, receive a refund, or change to audit status, EXPRESS
10/13/2017– Last day to drop, receive a refund, or change to audit status, 2nd8W MOD
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
9/14/2017 – Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” – 1st8W MOD
10/17/2017-Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W’ – WEEKEND
10/19/2017– Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” –REGULAR/ONLINE
10/30/2017 – Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” – EXPRESS
11/10/2017 – Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” – 2nd8W MOD
COLLEGE CLOSED DATES:
09/14/2017 – College Closed – Labor Day
10/31/2017 – College Closed –Professional development for faculty/staff
11/10/2017 – College Closed – Veteran’s Day
11/22-11/26/2017 – College Closed – Thanksgiving Break
TBA - Deadline for Graduation Application (for name appear in the program)
12/09/2017 - Commencement
If you completely withdraw from the college anytime on or before the dates of your session, you may incur repayment of Financial Assistance funds. Seefinancial aid withdraw deadlines.
** Refer to the course Calendar in MyCourses for due dates for all assignments.
** Also refer to the SPC College Academic Calendar for important dates:
http://www.spcollege.edu/calendar/
** Please see the Syllabus Addendum for more information:(link included as well as the entire content is copied and pasted below)
http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/
In the event that topics listed in this addendum also appear in your syllabus, please note that you should rely on the addendum information as this information is the most current.
How to Be A Successful Student:
SUCCESS FACTORS
Attending classis vital to your success, particularly the first few days of class as you are introduced to the requirements and topics you will be covering. Therefore the college limits when you canadd classes. For online classes, you must be registered the day before the first day of the semester or term. For classes held in the classroom, you can’t add a class if it has already met. You maydrop a coursethrough Friday of the first day of class and be eligible for a refund although withdrawing may affect yourfinancial aid. If you are thinking of withdrawing, please speak with your instructor first and then a financial aid counselor –www.spcollege.edu/getfunds.
Showing up is the first step in ensuring your academic success.Active participationis the next step – whether you are in a classroom or taking classes online. Each of your faculty will give details in the syllabus about theirattendancepolicies. If you are going to miss a session, or be offline for any reason, please let your instructor know in advance. If you don’t attend during the first two weeks of a term you willautomatically be withdrawnfrom the class and this can cause seriousproblems if you receive financial aid. In fact, if you withdraw prior to completing 60% of a class and receive any form of federal financial aid (grants or loans) you will be required to repay a portion. So if you are thinking of withdrawing, please speak with your instructor or a financial aid counselor –www.spcollege.edu/getfunds.
St. Petersburg College is supported by the state of Florida so it’s important for you to know thestate rulesthat affect your academics. If you’ve completed a class with a grade of “C” or higher you can’t take that class again. This gives other students an opportunity to enroll in the classes they need. If you earned less than a “C”, you may repeat the course one time without a penalty but on the third attempt yourcosts will be higher. Make sure you talk to your advisor if you need to repeat a class. The third attempt will be the final attempt allowed and you can’t receive a grade of incomplete, withdrawn, or audit but must receive the letter grade earned.
Yourgrade point averageis used to determine financial aid eligibility, entrance into certain programs, and warnings, probation, and suspension. If you repeat a course, at SPC or another college, only the last attempt will be used in computing the grade-point average.
TheOffice of Accessibility Servicesis available to assist you if you have a documented disability or think that you may have a disability. Please make an appointment with the Accessibility Coordinator on your campus or online. Registering with Accessibility Services is especially important if you are on campus and will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation. For contact information, please see the Accessibility Services website –/Accessibility/.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
It is important that all of your attention be focused on the content to be learned so when you are in class you shouldn’t be using yourcomputer, cell phone, and tabletfor casual use, only academic purposes. Any use of these devices (includingtexting) for non-academic purposes draws your attention away from the course work and is therefore subject to disciplinary action.
Whether you are taking a course online, blended, or in the classroom, you may be required to have discussions of class assignments and share papers and other class materials with instructors and classmates online. The learning management system,MyCourses, will be used for this purpose and you should complete the Introduction toMyCoursesso that you are comfortable with the system and can complete your assignments.