This course is designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of the substances used and abused in the United States, how they affect the human body, and the consequences of substance abuse on people of different ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, etc. This course will also permit you to explore your own use of various substances. During each class period, the instructor or guest lecturer will discuss the topics at hand. While substantial reference will be made to material in the text, the lectures and discussion will also cover material from active web pages students are presenting in class, current newspaper and magazines, and other media. The instructor actively encourages class discussion on the topics dealt with in the lectures.
Students are strongly encourages to ask questions and to share their own views.
Three multiple-choice exams will be given. These exams will be based on the lectures and the reading assignments. Do all the assigned readings from the texts prior to class meetings. The quality of class discussion will be substantially enhanced if students have completed the assigned readings prior to class. Due to the personal nature of this experience, this paper will not be assigned a letter grade.