This course reviews institutional, social and cultural issues concerning the social context of substance abuse, substance abuse prevention and treatment. It includes the issues of complex culture, differential access to substance abuse treatment and risk protective factors, the role of oppression and the complex and contradictory issues of social policy.

We will review the critical analysis of David Forbes' (1994) False Fixes: The Cultural Politics of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Relations as a perspective adding to the complexity of culture in substance abuse. Forbes describes some central concepts to be taken up in this course:

Drug abuse prevention professionals and educators have helped students and community residents through counseling and teaching individual skills to strengthen their ability to resist drug abuse. Yet this approach is insufficient and does not get at the broader issues?. Although prevention does try to ask why people abuse alcohol and drugs, the answers it gives tend to be inadequate to the complexities of the dilemma... The war on drugs has never asked why so many people in this society need to take drugs in the first place; it only seeks to make the issue go away. (p. x)

Social Issue Research Paper  (50%)
Regular Attendance and Class Participation (50%).

• To gain a general understanding of social, political and structural issues of substance abuse prevention, treatment and law enforcement social policy.
• To generally investigate the relationship between social problems, social policy, oppression, and addiction, and social policies that may or may not help them.
• To investigate a particular social issue of interest such as access to treatment and differential criminalization.

Course Schedule
Day 1

Introduction /Syllabus
Legalization Article Review
Social Policy & Law Enforcement (Article)
Addictive Culture Group Exercise

Day 2

Research Paper Topic Approval
Video: Peyote Road & Federal Legislation
Application of Social Policy Critique
Social Policy Group Exercises

Mandatory Attendance.

For the research project, in 5-8 pages thoroughly summarize key aspects of a socially relevant social issue in the treatment, prevention and social policy of substance use and abuse. (This does NOT include describing a substance and its biological affects).

Social issues include the relationship of addiction, treatment and prevention to social institutions, social and legal policy and their effects, social inequality, oppression, culture, social group or corporate interests, popular culture, etc.  Since social issues tend to be complex concerns embedded in cultural assumptions and social institutions, these class presentations must demonstrate a synthesis of the social issues that the class has reviewed by using critique and analysis in the presentation of such issues. This is an assignment where creativity and investigation into the fascinating issues that both support and contradict substance use and abuse are found. Some example topics are substance use/ abuse and Greek culture, corporate responsibility and legal culture, affects of media on different groups, accessibility of alcohol and drugs and treatment for addiction with particular populations or in particular areas, differential legal treatment of social groups with relation to alcohol, drugs, the relationship between health related research and the (il)legality of particular drugs, or use of alcohol and drugs as biological weapons.

Define the social issues and why it is an important topic to study (i.e. what is the problem or controversy about? who does it affect? and is this in alignment with or in contradiction to human welfare) and why?

Describe applicable history and current context / aspects of the issue.  For example, what impacts those issues and how can treatment providers or other social/political institutions impact his issue.

Demonstrate a logical argument with appropriately placed resources. What is your educated opinion?

Use the American Psychological Associations formal for your research paper and references in 5-8 pages, double spaced with 1" margins, 12 pt Times. You must use least three references from peer-reviewed academic sources are required (No internet sites).

Submit your report either to the Substance Abuse Prevention Program by Friday at 3:00 pm.

Use of Personal Technology & Literature:

• Laptops may ONLY be used in class for the purpose of note taking. Web surfing, games, instant messaging, email, and working on homework for other classes tends to be distracting to others and is prohibited during class time. If you find you must do otherwise, please excuse yourself for the remainder of the class time. However, you will not earn participation points for that day.
• Non-course materials - Magazines, books, newspapers and other literature, including homework from other classes, may be a distraction for others in class and is therefore prohibited. Please save these activities for time other than in class.
• Music/Video player use during class is strictly prohibited. This is a definite distraction for others.
• Cell phones are to be silenced and not used during class time. This includes sending or receiving calls or use of text messaging. If you find you need to use your cell phone, please excuse yourself for the remainder of the class time. However, you will not earn participation points for that day.