HPC 4570/5560 The Addictive Process/Spring Semester 2015/COE 301
Tuesday 8:30-11:20 a.m.
Geri Miller, Ph.D./Room 509G COE Building/262-6048 millerga@appstate.edu
Office hours: To be announced (sign up sheet posted on office door)-emails will be
answered during office hours
I. Objectives: The objectives of the course are two-fold: to convey content on the use and abuse
of drugs (including alcohol) in our society and to initiate a process of personal growth and selfexamination by the students into their own substance use and into their attitudes and feelings
regarding the course content.
II. Content: Content is conveyed through class lectures and readings. The self-examination is
facilitated through classroom discussion and assignments, which include: (1) keeping a log of
personal substance use, (2) participating in a two-week drug-free period, (3) writing a personal
philosophy of drug use, (4) writing reactions to class movies, and (5) participating in a
presentation and writing a paper on a multicultural topic. Content areas, taught from a
multicultural perspective, include:
1) Introduction and overview of current American use of caffeine, cocaine, nicotine,
alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, amphetamines, opiates, marijuana, inhalants, and hallucinogens.
2) Historical perspectives including the history of the use and abuse of the above
substances and legal efforts at control.
3) Characteristics of the various classes of drugs and their actions.
4) Discussion of addiction and psychological dependence from a life span perspective.
5) Treatment models and programs.
III.Textbooks:
Hart, C.L., & Ksir, C. (2013). Drugs, society, & human behavior (15th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill. (Required) (978-0-07-352974-5)
Kuhn, C., Swartzwelder, & Wilson, W. (2014). Buzzed (4th ed.). New York: Norton.
(Required for Graduate Students only) (393-34451-6)
IV. Grading: Attendance: 1 miss allowed; then -10 points per absence.
Participation:
30 points
Log of Use:
20 points (10 points for each part)
Personal Philosophy Statement:*
20 points (post online)
Movie Day Reaction Papers:*
40 points (post online)
Presentation/Paper:*
70 points (35 points each)
Final:
20 points
Total:
200 points
[180-200=A range; 160-179=B range; 140-159=C range; 120-139=D range]
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* = Papers need to be thoughtfully written (concise, no errors, reflective) and double spaced.
Points will be deducted for lateness, not following length requirements and writing errors (up to
half of the points can be deducted for writing errors).
Participation: Points are based on attendance (role will be taken in the first five minutes) and
active involvement in the class (including participation in other students' presentations). In order
to receive full points, the student must be on time, attend all classes, and actively participate in
class discussions. Attendance and active participation in all classes is expected. A marginal
grade may be impacted by inadequate class participation. Participation means: 1) only one
person speaks in class at a time, 2) all students will listen to that speaker and not participate in
“sidebar” conversations with other students, and 3) each student will shut off all electronic
devices and not engage in electronic communications. Students need to read the online
AsULearn resource, Cybersecurity Social Media Grad Students, and email Dr. Miller one
paragraph stating 1 thing learned in reading this powerpoint. This needs to be done
by the beginning of the second class.
Graduate students are expected to choose a major drug category and present an experiential
exercise based on the book Buzzed at the beginning of the class discussing that drug category
(stimulants, depressants/sedatives, inhalants, alcohol, opiates, hallucinogens, marijuana/hashish,
tobacco, caffeine, steroids). Students can use Dr. Miller’s neurotransmission experiential
activity or develop one of their own with Dr. Miller’s approval. Students will sign up for times
the first day of class.
Log of Use/Abstinence: The first part of the log will cover the student's use of all drugs taken
from 1/13-1/20. The log can be handwritten and simply needs to list the drugs taken in that
period of time. Drugs include: sugar, caffeine, nicotine, over-the-counter medication, prescribed
medication, alcohol, illegal drugs. This log will only be seen by the student and the instructor
and will be confidential. This first part of the log is due on 1/27. From 1/20-2/3, the student
will be asked to be chemically free from all drugs and write daily in the second part of the log
how this experience feels. Being chemically free does not include prescribed medication and if
the student begins to feel badly during this withdrawal period, it is the student's responsibility to
contact a doctor or a hospital for follow-up. The purpose of this exercise is to help the student
realize the extent and impact of his/her use of chemicals. This second part of the log is due on
2/10.
Personal Philosophy Statement: This 3 page paper will be submitted on line.
summarize your views of alcohol and drug use. Due 2/24.
You will
Movie Day Reaction Papers: There will be three days (one day will have two) showing addiction
movies (they will not be shown at another time). Reaction paper sets are each worth 10 points
(up to 5 points deducted for writing problems) and are due the next class period. Each movie
requires a one page reaction paper to be posted on line. Questions to be answered are: (1) What
did I learn about addiction from this movie that I did not know before? (2) How does this
information apply to me personally and/or professionally?
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Presentation/Paper: The 50 minute presentation (35 points) will be graded according to the
attached sheet with each student graded on his/her part. If the student has concerns about
presenting, meetings can be arranged with the instructor to help the student present. The paper
(35 points) is a written summary of the student's portion of the presentation and is due the day of
the presentation (5 pages). Grading is on writing style (no typing or grammatical errors,
conciseness) and organization. Up to 15 points can be deducted for writing problems. Each
student will work in a group (assigned the first class day) on a topic which focuses on a
multicultural aspect of addiction: sexual orientation (GLBT), age (teenagers, elderly), gender
(women), ethnicity (Latino, Native American, African-American), physical disability (deaf),
poverty (homeless). The instructor has materials on each of these areas-each group needs to
consult with Dr. Miller regarding these resource materials. If students reference research studies,
the studies need to be drawn from the NIDA, NIAAA, or SAMHSA websites. The group can
pick another area with the instructor's permission. IF A STUDENT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON
THE DAY OF HIS/HER PRESENTATION, THE STUDENT WILL NOT OBTAIN ANY
POINTS FOR THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE MAKE-UP DATES WILL NOT BE
PROVIDED.
Final: The final exam is a 20 point, multiple choice test (each item equals one point).
Course Policies
Link to course policies
http://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/resources/syllabi
Weather Policy
Classes will only be canceled if ASU closes. Class may be postponed in the event of bad
weather. If the instructor postpones the class, students will be notified through a phone tree
system as well as an e-mail through ASU Learn. The instructor will call the first person on the
list who will contact the second person on the list and so on until each person is contacted. If a
student cannot reach the person they are to contact, they need to leave a message on the
instructor=s answering machine stating the name of the student that could not be reached and
then contact the next person on the list. A phone tree list will be drawn up the first day of class
and copies of the phone tree list will be given out the first day of class. If any student is
uncomfortable giving out his/her phone number to the class, it is that student=s responsibility to
let the instructor know he/she does not want his/her name on the list. Any classes postponed will
need to be made up.
Please note that Dr. Miller is a disaster mental health worker for the American Red Cross.
This means that if she is called up for a disaster during the semester, students will be
contacted in the same methods used for weather related changes and arrangements will be
made regarding class schedule changes.
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Date
1/13
CLASS SCHEDULE (* = possible presentation dates)
Chapter
Topic/Assignment Due
1&2
Overview/Social Problem
Log of Use Begins
Read AsULearn resource, Cybersecurity Social
Media Grad Students, and write paragraph
1/20
3, 4, & 5
Regulations/Nervous Systems/Actions of Drugs
Log of Use Ends
Begin Chemical Free Use Period
1/27
3, 4, & 5
Regulations/Nervous Systems/Actions of Drugs
Log of Use Due (Part 1)
2/3
3, 4, & 5
Regulations/Nervous Systems/Actions of Drugs
MOVIE DAY
End Chemical Free Use Period
2/10
6&7
Stimulants/Depressants/Inhalants
Movie Reaction Paper Due
Log of Use Due (Part 2)
2/17
9
Alcohol
2/24*
13
MOVIE DAY (2)-view on line
Opiates
Personal Philosophy Statement Due
3/3*
14 & 15
Hallucinogens/Marijuana & Hashish
Movie Reaction Papers Due
3/10
SPRING BREAK
3/17*
10 & 11
Tobacco & Caffeine
3/24*
18
MOVIE DAY
Addiction Theory & Treatment
3/31*
18
Addiction Theory & Treatment
Movie Reaction Paper Due
4/7
HOLIDAY
4/14*
8
Mental Disorders
4/21
12, 16, & 17
OTC/Steroids
Final
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I. Dr. Geri Miller's Tidbits on Presenting
A. Gathering Information
1. First, choose a topic of some interest.
2. Find supportive materials*
-Interviews
-Personal Experiences,
-Letters
-Questionnaires
-Printed Materials [newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, encyclopedias,
documents, reports, books, biographies, computers, radio, and t.v. broadcasts].
*All sources must be cited in speech.
B. Writing the Speech
1. Write the thesis statement/proposition.
2. Write an outline* with 4 main points:
-introduction
-thesis
-body
-conclusion
*Use symbols: Roman numerals followed by capital letters, numbers, lower case letters.
Give one copy of the outline to the instructor and one to each of the listeners.
3. Put the Body of the speech together.**
4. Write the Introduction and Conclusion last.**
**Put the information on note cards.
C. Presenting the information [Give balanced time to introduction, body, conclusion]
[No one should speak more than 20 minutes]
1. Thesis Statement: central idea to be put at the end of Introduction
2. Audience: Analyze audience and target in on a way to interest them.
3. Ethos: the major impression of a person [be competent, trutstworthy, attractive/neat]
4. Eye Contact: Look at everybody, but do not zero in on eyes until comfortable.
5. Note Cards: Use them in the speech, but do not write on the back of them.
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I. Presentation (Total Points _____ out of 35 possible points) Presenter: ____________
A. Parts of speech (15 possible: ______)
Introduction: captures audience attention
1
poor
2
below
average
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
4
good
5
excellent
Body: elaborates on main points
1
poor
2
below
average
3
average
Conclusion: summarizes ideas/makes final points
1
poor
2
below
average
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
B. Delivery (10 possible: ______)
Body movement: too "much" or too "little"
[appearance, posture & walking, facial expression, gestures, eye contact]
1
poor
2
below
average
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
Voice Quality [rate, loudness, conversational quality, fluency, distinctness]
Language [appropriateness, economy, clarity, vividness, sentence structure]
1
poor
2
below
average
C. Overall speech (10 possible:
Organization
1
2
poor
below
average
Overall presentation
1
2
poor
below
average
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
3
average
4
good
5
excellent
______)
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Listening Responsibilities
A communicator holds a responsibility to listen. Even a cooperative listener, however, can break
down communication with poor listening habits.
There are 6 ways to listen responsibly:
1. Purposefully: Enter the listening situation with a purpose, to be informed, to be entertained,
etc.
2. Actively: Realize that it is an active process, not a passive one.
-The spoken words must be received, interpreted, and retained.
-Listening requires use of the total self, including all of the senses. It is not easy.
-It involves physical, mental, and emotional involvement.
3. Objectively: Avoid misperceiving and misinterpreting the messages heard.
-Do not let preconceived ideas, beliefs, etc. block the reception of information.
-Do not let emotions become overly aroused by what the speaker says.
-Do not let people sitting in the same area have a negative effect on listening to the
information.
4. Constructively:
-Do not be destructive (making fun of the speaker, criticizing the speaker's delivery).
-Look behind the external factors and evaluate what the speaker is saying.
-Keep an open mind about the speaker's ideas regardless of who that person is and what
is known about them.
5. Attentively:
-Direct attention to the speaker.
-To be attentive, avoid behavior that is distracting to self/others, especially the speaker.
-Do not work on other projects, pass notes, whisper, etc.
6. Enthusiastically:
-If unenthusiastic about the subject, find some relevance to self.
-If unenthusiastic about the speaker, focus on the topic.