Full Reading/Assignment Schedule Spring I 2019

Weekly Schedule of Reading/Assignments*

*Subject to Change. Reading/viewing materials will be added as the semester continues.
**Readings and videos are to be read/watched before class on due date listed. Writing assignments and Exams due @ 11:59pm on due date.

Week 1: March 6 – Course Introduction, Syllabus Review ; Drug Use: An Overview

Week 2: March 13 – Drug Use in Society ; Research Methodology

Reading / Assignments due March 13: 

  1. Visit all websites, complete “I visited!” Form:  https://goo.gl/forms/vorY4bSN8GldvmMC3
  2. Writing Assignment: Drug Education Reflection (on Blackboard)

Week 3: March 20 – Regulation and Policy ; The Nervous System

Reading / Assignments due March 20:

  1. Read: Chapter 4 [Sections 4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, & 4.5]: “Brains, Bodies, & Behavior” in Introduction to Psychology OER Textbook. Link to Text: https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/chapter-3-brains-bodies-and-behavior/ 
  2. Explore Timeline: http://drugtimeline.ca/
  3. Required: Watch “Breaking the Taboo” on e-Portfolio
  4. Film Response #1: “Breaking the Taboo” – submit on Blackboard by 3/20 @ 11:59pm.

Week 4: March 27 – The Action of Drugs

Reading / Assignments due March 27:

  1. Read: Chapter 1 (p. 4-13) in NIGMS Medicines By Design: https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/Booklets/medicines-by-design/Documents/Booklet-Medicines-by-Design.pdf#page=8
  2. Read/Explore: DEA Website Drug Policy Information (Current) : https://www.dea.gov/drug-policy-information
  3. Read/Explore: DEA Website, Drug Scheduling: https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling

Week 5: April 3 – Stimulants

EXAM #1 POSTED ON BLACKBOARD. 

Reading / Assignments due April 3:

  1. **Scaffolded Policy Analysis – Audio/Video Presentation due 4/3 at 11:59pm. (on Blackboard)
  2. Read: Stimulant Use: Harm Reduction, Treatment, and Future Directions report from the Drug Policy Alliance. Link: http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/dpa_report_stimulantharmreduction_0.pdf
  3. Read: 
    Chapter 2, How Stimulants Affect the Brain and Behavior, in Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 1999. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 33.). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64328/

Week 6: April 10 – Alcohol ; Depressants

Reading / Assignments due April 10:

  1. Exam #1 :  Completed exam due 4/10 at 11:59pm. 
  2. Read: All of Chapter 7 – Alcohol. In Human Nutrition OER Textbook from University of Hawaii. Link: http://pressbooks.oer.hawaii.edu/humannutrition/chapter/1139/
  3. Read/Explore: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Website. Link: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics:

Week 7: April 17 – Medications for Mental Illness ; Tobacco

Reading / Assignments due April 17:

  1. Required: Watch “Pill Poppers” on e-Portfolio
  2. Film Response #2: “Pill Poppers” – submit on Blackboard by 4/17 @ 11:59pm.
  3. Reading: For this week, see Chapter on Blackboard in “Slides” section. 
  4. Not required to read ahead of time, but resources for Exam #2 and reading associated with Medications for Mental Illness:
    – Explore Website & “Medications for Mental Health” sections on National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications/index.shtml
    – Explore Website & “Medications for Mental Health” sections on National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):  https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Mental-Health-Medications

Week 8: April 24 – Spring Break, no class. Don’t forget things are due next week, May 1! *This is also a good time to get a start on your final policy paper! (Due May 29)

Week 9: May 1 – Tobacco & Caffeine – CLASS CANCELLED. See changes in future weeks of schedule!

Reading / Assignments due May 1:

  1. Required: Watch “Supplements & Safety” on e-Portfolio
  2. Film Response #3: “Supplements & Safety” – submit on Blackboard by 5/1 @ 11:59pm.
  3. Read/Explore: NYC Tobacco & Smoking Legislation – https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/business/food-operators/smoking-legislation.page
  4. Read/Explore: WHO Timeline of Tobacco: https://www.who.int/tobacco/en/atlas2.pdf
  5. Read: US Surgeon General’s Report, Health Consequences of Smoking – 50 Years of Progress (2014): http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/reports/50-years-of-progress/exec-summary.pdf

*Last day to Withdraw with a grade of ‘W’ is May 6.

Week 10: May 8 – Tobacco, Caffeine ; Supplements/OTC/Steroids

EXAM #2 POSTED ON BLACKBOARD. 

Assignments due May 8 :

  1. Read: NIH Fact Sheet, Dietary Supplements:  https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/DietarySupplements-HealthProfessional/
  2. Read: FDA Website on Supplements: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/fda-101-dietary-supplements
  3. Read/Explore: 
    Drug Policy Alliance on Heroin: http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/heroin
    Drug Policy Alliance on Synthetic Opioids: http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-facts/synthetic-opioids-fentanyl

Week 11: May 15 – Supplements Part 2 ; Opioids

Assignments due May 15:

  1. Exam #2 :  Completed exam due 5/15 at 11:59pm. 
  2. Required: Watch “What’s in My Baggie?” on e-Portfolio
  3. Film Response #4: “What’s in My Baggie?” – submit on Blackboard by 5/15 @ 11:59pm.
  4. Read: NY Times Article, “Lawsuits Lay Bare Sackler Family’s Role in Opioid Crisis”-https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/health/sacklers-oxycontin-lawsuits.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwAR1CjGcxM4zHCQzEI2nHju7LqnS2ARsShdUND1i5DC1kSor87rmJD5u_fHk

Week 12: May 22 – Marijuana

Assignments due May 22:

  1. Required: Watch “Science of Cannabis” on e-Portfolio
  2. Film Response #5: “Science of Cannabis?” – submit on Blackboard by 5/22 @ 11:59pm.

Week 13: May 29 – Prevention & Treatment

EXAM #3 POSTED ON BLACKBOARD. 

Assignments due May 29:

  1. Scaffolded Policy Analysis – FINAL POLICY PAPER due 5/29 at 11:59pm. (on Blackboard)

Week 14: June 5, Final Examination Week

  1. Exam #3 :  Completed exam due 6/5 at 11:59pm. 
  2. Writing Assignment: Final Reflection (on Blackboard)

In class – MAKE-UP EXAM #1 & #2  ONLY. – Please email for details. 

LaGuardia CC Overall Academic Calendar for 2018-2019 available here.

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