Addiction Policy
832:351:01
833.351:01
Hickman Hall 119
Steven G. Liga, MSW, LSW, LCADC, CPS, CCS
Email: sliga@rci.rutgers.edu
Course Overview
This course is designed to take a critical, yet realistic look at policies related to alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs. Both regulatory and legislative policies will be discussed on
the local, state, and national levels. Students will explore the process of sound policy
development, learn how to impact public policy on a practical level; and craft policies of
their own.
Required Texts
Multiple articles will be assigned. All will be posted on Sakai.
Course Policies
 Confidentiality—Due to the organization and focus of this course, students may share
their personal experiences. This information is private and should not be repeated outside
this class.
 Our academic environment is designed for learning, so remember to keep an open mind.
 Every assignment is due on the specified date listed in the syllabus. No late assignments
will be accepted unless approved by the instructor in advance of the deadline. Approved
late assignments will receive an automatic full grade deduction.
 This class depends heavily on student interaction and group learning. Students are
expected to attend class regularly and participate actively. Attendance will be taken.
After two absences (excused or not), each successive missed class will result in 1% being
deducted from your final course grade.
 Students must comply with all university standards on academic conduct (see attached
Statement of Academic Integrity)
 Cell phones must be turned off during class. Please do not subject anyone to disruptive or
rude behavior, such as texting during class.
 Laptops are permitted for taking notes and looking up course-related material. All other
uses (instant messaging, games, surfing, etc.) will result in having to turn off your
computer. Second offenses will result in barring your computer from the classroom.
 Written assignments must cite all sources used and be submitted using 12 point font and
typed SINGLE-spaced.
 All papers must be submitted via Sakai by the beginning of class the day they due.
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Steven G. Liga
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Calendar
Date
General Topic
Specific Topic
9/2
Course Overview
Discussion of syllabus
9/4
Define Addiction
Models and Continuum of Addiction
9/9
Define Policy
Legislative, Regulatory, and Judicial, plus effectiveness
Last Day to Drop Course
9/11
Impacting Policy
Framing the Issue (Lenses), Community Need, Goals
9/16
Impacting Policy
Stakeholders, State of Readiness
9/18
No Class
Tree of Hope Celebration
Out of Class Extra Credit Event
9/20
No Class
Recovery Rally
Out of Class Extra Credit Event
9/23
Prevention
Supply vs. Demand
9/25
Treatment
Modalities, effectiveness
9/30
Healthcare Reform
Access, SBIRT, prevention
10/2
The Long View
Facts, Trends, Clean Indoor Air
Tobacco
Policy Topic Due
Zero Tolerance
Facts, Trends, Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
Cocaine
Letter to the Editor Due
Harm Reduction
Facts, Trends, Needle Exchange Programs
10/7
10/9
Heroin
10/14
Legalization of
Facts, Trends, Legalization - Medical Marijuana
Marijuana
10/16
Underage Drinking
Facts, Trends, Mandatory Minimum Drinking Age
10/21
Underage Drinking
Private Property Ordinances, Marketing
10/23
RX Drugs
Facts, trends, FDA, Marketing
10/28
Senator Vitale?
Current Issues in the Legislature
10/30
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
11/4
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
11/6
TBD
Students’ Choice
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Steven G. Liga
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11/11
TBD
Students’ Choice
11/13
TBD
Students’ Choice
11/18
TBD
Students’ Choice
11/20
TBD
Students’ Choice
11/25
TBD
NO CLASS
11/27
TBD
Thanksgiving Break
12/2
TBD
Students’ Choice
12/4
TBD
Students’ Choice
12/9
Review
White Paper Due
Course Assignments
1. Public Policy Debate – Pros and Cons of an Important ATOD-related Issue (40%)
You and a partner will identify a current policy related to alcohol, tobacco, or other
drugs. Each pair must sign up for a particular policy to be approved by the professor.
No duplicates will be allowed. This can be a local or state legislative or regulatory
policy. I will provide you with a list of all bills introduced in the New Jersey legislature
during the 2014-2015 session related to the course to get you started. You will examine
the issue from both sides and be able to defend both sides of the argument. This is crucial
when advancing any policy agenda; you must completely understand the opposite side.
The assignment includes a paper and a presentation.
a. (20%) The first assignment is to write a paper about the issue. One partner
will approach the issue as a proponent of the policy. The second person will
approach the issue as an opponent of the policy. In each case, provide the context
for the issue (why is/was it needed?) and significant aspects of the policy (who is
impacted and how?). Each paper will be graded independently. Refer to the
appropriate rubric posted on Sakai to see how your paper will be graded.
b. (20%) The second assignment is to lead a debate about the issue in class. The
catch is you must argue from your partner’s perspective (the opposite position
you wrote about). These debates will form the basis for the class discussions
during the second half of the semester, so you must provide me with two
readings (each side) to post on Sakai for the class to read at least one week
prior to your topic date. Failure to do so will result in a 5% penalty deducted
from the assignment grade. These readings will form the basis for class quizzes.
Two issues will be examined and debated each class. Refer to the appropriate
rubric posted on Sakai to see how your paper will be graded
You will reserve your topic and debate date during the 5th week of class. Your papers
and readings are due TWO CLASSES PRIOR to your presentation date!
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2. Letter to the Editor (10%)
Students must write a letter to the editor in support or opposition of a current or proposed
public policy related to alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Letters should be no more than
300 words and must be based on facts corroborated by at least two published sources.
References do not appear in the body of the letter or count toward the word count.
Letters that are actually published before the end of the semester will receive three extra
credit percentage points toward your final grade. Note that since this is such a brief
assignment and is worth a full 10% of your course grade, it will be graded at a very
high standard. Only those recommended for publication “as is” (well-written and
insightful with NO spelling or grammatical errors) will be awarded an “A”. Refer to the
appropriate rubric posted on Sakai to see how your paper will be graded
This assignment is due October 7.
3. Quizzes (20%)
Course readings will be posted on Sakai at least three days in advance of each class.
These readings will form the basis for brief quizzes to take place at the beginning of each
class period. If you are late for class, you will not be given extra time to complete the
quizzes. Each quiz is worth one point toward your final grade and will be scored on a
pass/fail basis. Only your 20 best quiz scores will count toward your final grade.
Quizzes will be given on most class days.
4. Final (20%) – White Paper: Topic of Your Choice
You will develop an informative “marketing” tool called a White Paper for an original
ATOD-related policy of your choice not already being covered in class. This is a doublesided single sheet paper providing all the information necessary about a particular policy
to secure the support necessary to get it implemented. This is what you would provide to
the media, legislators, and the public to advocate for your particular proposed policy.
Therefore, it must be well-researched, clear, and persuasive, as well as grammatically
perfect and visually appealing. Refer to the appropriate rubric posted on Sakai to see how
your paper will be graded.
A. Policies result from an identified need. You must look at your community of
choice and identify a need related to an ATOD issue that can be addressed through
policy. Ask yourself:
 What is happening (or not happening) that needs to be addressed by a policy
change or creation?
 What sources document this need?
 What type of policy is needed (legislative or regulatory)?
 What is the state of readiness in the community for your policy initiative?
 Who are the primary stakeholders related to the issue?
a. Who will likely be on your side and why?
b. Who will be against you and why?
c. Who may not lean either way that needs to be convinced?
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B. The policy itself must effectively address your identified need. Ask yourself:
 What do I need to do to get my initiative implemented?
 How do I incorporate all aspects of effective policy into this initiative?
 Is it practical, understandable, enforceable?
 What outcomes do I expect?
 How will I know if the policy serves its intended purpose?
 How will I publicize the policy?
5. Class Participation (10%)
As the course design depends heavily on class participation, students will be graded on a
scale of 0 to 5 for their participation. A score of 5 would require a student to clearly
demonstrate that course readings were done, engage in class discussions through
insightful questions, and play an active role in moving the course forward. A score of 1
would mean the professor knows the student’s name. Attendance does not count toward
class participation (see attendance policy). If the professor cannot readily call your name
by the end of the semester, your Class Participation grade will be zero.
Note: It is impossible to get an “A” in this course without ample class participation.
Optional Extra Credit Trips (3-6% toward final course grade)
There will be three options for extra credit this semester. Each involves an out of class event
designed to enhance the course content with real world experiences. Transportation will not be
provided. To attend and get credit, students must turn in a signed Informed Consent Form
(posted on Sakai). Students are strongly encouraged to attend these events. However, they are
not mandatory. Credit will be given toward your final course grade in the following manner:
 Attendance for one event = 3 extra credit points
 Attendance for two events = 5 extra credit points
 Attendance for three events = 6 extra credit points
Note that each event requires the submission of a single page paper reflecting on your experience
and relating that experience to the course material. This is not a report of what happened at the
event. It is a reflection on what the experience meant to you personally.

Recovery Celebration - “Tree of Hope Celebration”
Each year, NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. awards the Tree of Hope to an addiction
services provider that makes a substantial contribution to supporting recovery for local
residents. This year’s recipient is First Step Counseling. The celebration will take
place on Thursday, September 18, from 6:00-8:30 at First Step Counseling in
Metuchen. To receive credit, students must attend the event, sign in with the instructor,
and write a single-page paper reflecting on your experience and relating that experience
to the course materials.
Paper is due by September 25.
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Steven G. Liga
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
Recovery Celebration – “Recovery Walks!”
Each year, PRO-ACT hosts a Rally for Recovery at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. This
year, the event will take place on Saturday, September 20. For the event, delegates
from all over the region will rally and March through Philadelphia. Registration begins
at 7:00 AM and the Walk begins at 9:00 AM. To receive credit, students must attend the
event, write a paper reflecting on your experience, and submit a picture of yourself
wearing your event T-Shirt.
Paper is due by September 25.

State House Tour
Beverly Lynch, a veteran Trenton lobbyist for the addiction and health fields will
schedule a group tour of the State House in Trenton. This will be informative and may
include meetings with legislators and their aids and an opportunity to view a voting
session. The date has yet to be determined and will be based on the legislative calendar.
A single-page reflection paper is required in order to receive full credit.
Date to be determined
Grading
Letter % Range
#
Explanation
5.0
4.0
3.5
Letter
Equivalent
100%
95%
90%
A+
A
B+
98-100+%
91-97%
88-90%
B
81-87%
3.0
85%
Good work that meets all requirements
C+
C
D
F
78-80%
70-79%
60-69%
<60%
2.5
2.0
1.0
0
80%
75%
65%
50%
Average work that shows some promise
Average work that meets minimum requirements
Shows limited understanding
Unacceptable
Perfect
Excellent
Very good work
A Word on Grades
I love teaching, and I truly want you to LEARN, because I am passionate about what I have
to offer. I have given strong recommendations to graduate school for students, who I know
have truly learned and earned B's. Doing the work for a grade is a very empty way to go
through school. Unfortunately, this has become the norm. Please do not let yourself fall into
that trap. Learn because it is the learning that is important.
I encourage each of you to “let go” of the grades, because I do not negotiate. I promise to
devote considerable time to reading your work and providing comments to help you learn.
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Academic Misconduct: A Bloustein School Perspective
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, failure to cite sources,
fabrication and falsification, stealing ideas, and deliberate slanting of research
designs to achieve a pre-conceived result. We talk abut misconduct and ethical
behavior in classes and expectations are set forth in student handbooks and
catalogues. For example, it is presented on pages 545-547 in the New Brunswick
Undergraduate Catalogue for the years 2003 through 2005 and on pages 16-18 of
the Edward J. Bloustein catalogue for the years 2003 through 2005. We are not
repeating that material here. Note, however, that penalties for misconduct can range
from failing an assignment/exam or dismissal from the university.
The Bloustein School is appending this memorandum to your course syllabus
because we recently have detected obvious cases of plagiarism. We have found far
fewer cases of other forms of academic misconduct, but we find several every year.
It is imperative that you understand that unethical academic conduct is intolerable,
and it is completely preventable.
Academic misconduct almost always happens for two reasons. One is ignorance of
academic rules and practices. For example, in virtually every recent plagiarism case
in the School, material has been taken from an Internet site and placed in text
without appropriate note or attribution. You must learn the proper rules for
attribution. If you are not sure, ask your instructor! If you do not know the rules that
govern the use of data sets, attribution, analysis and reporting of these sets, the
faculty will help you. There is no such thing as a stupid question regarding this
subject.
Pressure is the second common reason for academic misconduct. Students, faculty,
every one of us are subject to deadline, financial, self-worth, peer, and other
pressures. If you are potentially allowing pressure to drive you to misconduct, please
step back and resist that urge. You can cope with pressure in a positive way by
reaching out to friends, counselors, and faculty members. Within the Bloustein
School community, you will find understanding people and positive direction.
The Bloustein School plays an important role in the planning and public policy
agenda. Our work and our students must be above reproach.
Updated
Addiction Policy
832:351:01 & 832:351:01
2/8/05
Steven G. Liga
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