ST. PETERSBURGCOLLEGE

HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM

SYG2324 PRINCIPLES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

INSTRUCTOR:

Jay Charboneau MS, CAP Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

DAY/TIME: Tuesdays 5:30pm - 8:10pm

Tarpon Springs Campus

PS 120

OFFICE HOURS: 3pm – 5pm

Or by appointment

EMAIL: Please Email me within MyCourses

TELEPHONE: Jay (727) 776-4165

We 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, Dr. Kerr at 341-3736 or email: . Dr. Kerr will get your urgent message to me.

Welcome!

This course is designed as an introduction to the field of substance abuse and dependency. In this course you will find a comprehensive overview including: historical perspectives, identification, intervention, prevention, rehabilitation and recovery resources; types of therapeutic and support groups; the pharmacology of commonly abused substances and their effects on the individual, family, community and society. We will pay close attention to the developmental process of addictions and addictions treatment.

Textbook:
The text we will be using is Loosening the Grip, McGraw-Hill,11thedition. You will find this is an excellent text. It is well-organized and comprehensive. We will be closely following the text, so it is crucial that you obtain it and read the chapters appropriate to each lesson. I will comment on information found in the text, but I will not be summarizing the text. Therefore, it is imperative that you actually read the book! We may supplement our reading with additional resources throughout the semester.

Course Objectives:

  1. Students will demonstrate acquired understanding of historical and current perspectives of substance abuse as measured by the student’s ability to:
  2. Discuss substance abuse based on the following historical and current perspectives: legal; moral; medical; sociological; financial; and psychological.
  3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of identification, intervention and outcomes of substance abuse.
  4. They will be able to explain the social symptoms of substance abuse.
  5. They will be able to explain the physical symptoms of substance abuse.
  6. They will be able to summarize factors in substance abuse, including: the dynamics of physiological addiction; the dynamics of emotional dependency; and the role ofsocioculturalfactors.
  7. Students will demonstrate an understanding of treatment modalities and resources in the field of substance abuse, including:
  8. They will be able to describe various models of intervention and treatment.
  9. They will be able to explain basic principles of group dynamics.
  10. They will be able to discuss legal issues in confidentiality, treatment and prevention.
  11. They will be able to use client educational materials.
  12. They will be able to discuss programs for prevention of substance abuse, including employee assistance programs.
  13. They will be able to examine moral and ethical issues in treatment, relapse and prevention.
  14. They will be able to explain the special needs of selected populations.
  15. They will be able to summarize characteristics of aftercare models and self-help groups.
  16. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of groups and group counseling techniques used in the field of substance abuse.
  17. They will be able to discuss major aspects of group dynamics.
  18. They will be able to summarize the dynamics of the family system.
  19. They will be able to explain the similarities and differences among inpatient, outpatient, after-care, self-help and individual counseling dynamics.
  20. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the pharmacology of substance abuse.
  21. They will be able to name commonly abused substances.
  22. They will be able to define cross-addiction/dependency.
  23. They will be able to define drug interactions and drug half-life.
  24. They will be able to outline nutritional needs.
  25. They will be able to recognize signs of abuse, addiction, dependency and relapse.
  26. They will be able to identify signs of abstinence.
  27. Students will demonstrate understanding of the concept of codependency
  28. They will be able to define codependency andpara-alcoholism.
  29. They will recognize the signs of codependency.
  30. They will be able to explain the progression of codependency.
  31. They will be able to discuss treatment modalities relating to codependency

GRADE RATING QUALITY POINTS POINTS

A Excellent490 -100

B Good 3 80 - 89

C Average2 70 - 79

D Below Average 1 60 - 69

F Failure 0 50 - 59

I Incomplete

Grading Policy (taken from the Human Services Student Handbook)

The Human Services Program has the following grading scale:

A = 90% - 100%

B = 80% - 89%

C = 70% - 79%

D = 60% - 69%

F = 59% or less

A grade of “C” or better is required for all required courses.

For information on SPC's Grading System, please click on the following link:

This link provides information regarding: the grading system;special instructions for grades; grade point average, and incomplete grades and procedure).

If you are an audit student, please contact the instructor early in the first week of the class. For more information on auditing a course, please see the College BOT (Board of Trustees)Rule 6Hx23-4.20, II.E

Grade Distribution:

  • 20% = Participation/Discussion Questions
  • 10% = 12-Step Meeting Assignment
  • 10% = HIPAA Module
  • 20% = Formal Research Paper.
  • 40% = Midterm Exam and Final Exam (20% each)

Use the Course Calendar:

Every assignment, including the weekly discussion assignments, is listed on the COURSE CALENDAR. The calendar is an invaluable tool for staying organized in the course.

Descriptions of Assignments:

  • The Midterm Exam and the Final Exam will both consist of 50 multiple choice questions which you will answer online on the day of the exam.
  • For the 12-Step Meeting Assignment you are asked to attend one12-STEP MEETINGof your choice. It can be Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA),Alanon/Naranon, or another similar12-Stepbasedsupport group. I am aware there are also many worthwhile non 12-Step groups. However, for the purpose of this assignment you must attend a 12-Step based group. If you already regularly attend a self-help program, you are asked to attend the meeting of a different program (i.e. If you already attend AA regularly, go to a meeting different than AA). Students should attend an "Open" meeting (An open meeting is where anyone is invited to attend, whether or not they are a member). If asked, students should identify themselves as counseling students attending to gain a better understanding of how 12-Step programs work. Do not 'pretend' to be a newcomer. Do not take notes or record the meeting. Just sit and listen. Write atwo pagereaction for each meeting you attend. Some of the questions you should address include: What happened there? What was the topic? What stood out to you? What were the people like? Would you recommend this meeting to someone (why or why not)? You must identify the name of the meeting, the time/date and location of the meeting you attended.
  • The HIPAA module consists of six information pages and a multiple-choice quiz.
  • For the Research Paper you are to use at leastfive academic referencesand write a5-7 pageformal paper on the topic of your choice related to substance abuse, treatment and/or recovery. The narrative body of the paper should be 5-7 pages (the cover page, bibliography page do not count toward the total). This paper is to be written double-spaced with one inch margins. The references should be cited using APA style. Hand-outs about APA style are available at the SPC libraries. There are also many APA resources on the internet. There is a link to APA resources under the LESSONS tab in this course. You do not need to purchase an APA handbook.

Sample TopicsForResearch Paper:

These are some suggested topics for your research paper, but you can develop your own topic if you want, but it must be related to substance abuse. If you are unsure if your chosen topic is suitable, ask your instructor.

  • Substance Abuse and the Elderly
  • Adolescents and Substance Abuse
  • Women and Substance Abuse
  • Disabled and Substance Abuse
  • Minorities and Substance Abuse
  • Special Populations and Substance Abuse
  • Symptoms, concerns and treatment specific to a particular drug (like cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, club drugs, etc.)
  • 12-Step Recovery.
  • Alternatives to 12-Step Recovery (like "Secular Sobriety", "Rational Recovery", "Moderation Model", etc.).
  • A specific treatment approach (like "Minnesota Model" or Therapeutic Communities).
  • Counseling Theory and Substance Abuse (like "Choice Theory" or "Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy" and how it is used in work with people who have substance abuse problems.
  • Relapse Prevention
  • Adult Children of Alcoholics
  • Substance Abuse and How It Affects the Family
  • Codependency,Alanon/NaranonIssues
  • The "War on Drugs"

Guidelines for Weekly Discussion Forums:

  • Attendance and participation will be evaluated primarily based upon your participation in the posted class discussion.THIS IS NOT A SELF-PACED COURSE. You will have a discussion assignment due each week.Due to the interactive nature of the discussion assignments, these will not be accepted late.Participation is worth 20% of your final grade. However, you may be withdrawn from the course if you miss more than two of the discussions throughout the semester.
  • When you prepare to post in the discussion, imagine we are all gathered around a table together, as professionals, colleagues, coworkers and friends engaging in an energetic and enjoyable conversation. Our goal as a class should be to create a safe environment for discussion, welcoming of the diversity we bring to the table. Each of us comes with our own wealth of personal and professional experience.
  • All posts should be respectful and professional.Your ideas should be presented in a respectful and professional manner. It is OK to disagree with another student on a topic, but your thoughts are to be "I" focused and articulated in a professional and respectful tone. Do not make this personal.
  • Sometimes other students may disagree with your opinion. Do not make this personal.
  • Be careful of tone and attitude in your posts, especially when you feel passionate about a topic. Remember, sometimes written posts can come across as harsher than intended. "Flaming", sarcastic, hostile, or personal attacks absolutely will not be tolerated. Inappropriate posts can affect your grade. Any inappropriate posts should be reported to your teacher immediately.
  • Do not use all capital letters in a post. In computer etiquette, using allcap'smeans you are shouting.
  • In general, I would discourage "over-disclosure" of personal history and behaviors in the Discussion Forum.
  • In general, if it isn't something you would say if you were sitting in a traditional classroom, face-to-face with the other students and yourteacher,then don't post it in the forum.
  • Be sensitive that some in the class may be people in recovery from substance addiction and many in the class are in training to be substance counselors.
  • Be sensitive that some in the class may not be frequent computer users. Try to avoid computer slang and abbreviations (such as ROTFL, LMAO, etc.), that may be unfamiliar to new computer users.
  • Please read the assigned chapter(s) in the text and review the lesson notes BEFORE posting your responses in the discussion. Sometimes, it is obvious that a student has not read the assignment.
  • Your initial response to a weekly discussion question should be complete, well-thought and comprehensive.Probably somewhere around one page in length.
  • Your two responses to other students should also be meaningful and complete.Probably somewhere around 1/2 page length.
  • Please post your initial answer, and the two responses to other students as separate posts. This makes it easier for your instructor to track your number of responses. It is OK to respond to more than two students (this is encouraged, actually), but you are only required to respond to two.
  • No credit will be given for too short, generic responses, e.g. "John, I agree with your answer. Signed, Jim".

Technical Assistance

If you experience technical problems with this online course, you may contact your instructor. I will try to help you, if I can. But please be aware my expertise is in counseling, not computer science. I may be unable to resolve many technical problems.

If you are having a technical problem, it is probably better to contact the SPC Technical Help Desk.

SPC Technical Help Desk
For assistance in technical aspects of online courses, r call (727) 341-4357 (HELP)

This syllabus is only a guide and may be changed during the course.The schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

You are responsible to be aware of and make a note of any changes announced by the instructor.Please attend all classes to stay informed of any changes.

Attendance:

Your Instructor primarily uses participation in the weekly discussion forum to document attendance in this online course. If you do not post by the due date, you will be marked absent for that week. Due to the interactive nature of the discussion assignments, there is no make-up for missed discussions, these are not accepted late (Each assignment is available for 7 days).

Students who miss more than two weekly discussions risk not passing.

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.The documentation must be faxed to the Human Services Program Director at: 727-444-6907. The Instructor has the discretion to determine if the excuse and documentation meet the criteria for an approved excused absence or an extension on an assignment.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

August 19, 2016 - Last day to drop with a refund

September 5, 2015- Labor Day- School Closed

September 15, 2016- LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH A GRADE OF “W”

October 21, 2016 -LAST DAY OF SEMESTER (Final Grades Due)

11/23 – 11/27 – Thanksgiving Break

** Also refer to the SPC College Academic Calendar for important dates:

** Refer to the course Calendar in MyCourses for due dates for all assignments.

** Also refer to the SPC College Academic Calendar for important dates:

** Please see the Syllabus Addendum for more information:(link included as well as the entire content is copied and pasted below)

Syllabus 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.

IMPORTANT COLLEGE POLICY REGARDING COURSE DROP/ ADD PERIOD AND AUDIT INFORMATION

Students CANNOT add a course following the 1st day the class meets prior to the second class meeting. Students CAN drop a course through Friday of the first week of classes and be eligible for a refund. Except by appeal to an associate provost, students may not change from credit to audit status after the end of the first week of classes. Online classes may be added through the standard drop/add period for that course.

GRADING AND REPEAT COURSE POLICIES

State policy specifies that students may not repeat courses taken at SPC for which a grade of “C” or higher has been earned except by appeal to an associate provost. Students may repeat a course one time without penalty. On the third attempt, students will pay the full cost of instruction. In addition to any required lab or special fees, the full cost of instruction rate for 2015-2016 is $386.90 per credit hour. In addition, on the third attempt students may NOT receive a grade of “I,” “W,” or “X,” but must receive the letter grade earned. The grade on the final last attempt with the exception of a “W” grade will be the grade that will be calculated into the overall grade point average. (Developmental courses do not average into the grade point average).

Courses taken at another college or university, and later repeated at SPC, are also subject to the College’s academic average and repeat course policy, meaning that the most recent attempt shall prevail, regardless of the earned grade at SPC.

ATTENDANCE / ACTIVE PARTICIPATION / WITHDRAWAL POLICIES

Faculty publish their own participation/attendance policies in their syllabi. Instructors verify that students are in attendance during the first two weeks of class. Students classified as “No Show” for both of the first two weeks are administratively withdrawn from any class which they are not attending. The student’s financial aid is adjusted based on their updated enrollment status. If a student is administratively withdrawn from a class because they were a “No-Show” during the first two weeks of class, financial aid will not pay for the class and the student will be responsible for paying for that class.

Students who are not actively participating in class as defined in an instructor's syllabus are reported to the Administration during the week following the last date to withdraw with a “W” on the Academic Calendar. A grade of “WF” will be assigned to students who are not actively participating during the week following the last day to withdraw with a W grade.