Drugs, People, and Society (SW 442)

Today we will get to know each other a bit and talk about expectations we all have of the course.  We'll start considering drugs, drug use, and drug abuse from a contextual perspective by exploring such questions as: "What is a drug?", "Why do people use drugs?", and "How can drug use and drug abuse be distinguished?".  Various responses to drug use and drug abuse will be briefly described and the Federal institutions involved in those responses will be highlighted.

January 28
 Drug, Set, and
Setting / Addiction
 

One way of understanding the effects of drugs on individuals is through the lens of "drug, set, and setting."  What this means and how it fits into positive and negative experiences with drugs will be one of today's topics.  We will also look at factors that might relate to the abuse potential of drugs.  Much of the class discussion will center on various constructions of "addiction".

Read

• SW442: Drug Use and Drug Abuse - experiences, policies, prevention and treatment Syllabus
• From Chocolate to Morphine: 9-13, 14-21, 22-27
• Ames, Genevieve M. (1986). "American Beliefs about Alcoholism: Historical Perspectives on the Medial-Moral Controversy," in Bennet, Linda A., and Ames, Genevieve M. (1986). The American Experience with Alcohol: Contrasting Cultural Perspectives, New York: Plenium Press, pp.23-39.
• Peele, Stanton. (1990). "Addiction as a Cultural Concept," Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 602:205-220.
• Volkow, Nora. (2003). "The Addicted Brain: Why Such Poor Decisions?," NIDA Notes, 18(4).
• Raven, Melissa. (1997). "The Politics of Drug Use," Dulwich Centre Newsletter, Nos. 2&3, pp. 4-6.

Browse

• U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency "Drug Scheduling"

February 4
Marijuana

 

Arguably the most polarized of currently illegal drugs, the social and political history of marijuana will be explored today with an emphasis on shifts (or lack thereof) that took place in the 20th century related to racism (e.g., anti-Mexican), propaganda (e.g., Reefer Madness), and medicalization (e.g., Proposition 215).

**Activity #1 (altered state of consciousness) due**

Read

• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "Emerald Laughter: Hashish and Marijuana," in Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 147-150.
• Anslinger, Harry J., and Thomas, William F. (1953). "Marijuana Effects on the Individual," The Traffic in Narcotics, Harper & Row, in Park, Peter and Matveychuk, Wasyl, Culture and Politics of Drugs, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, 1986, pp.160-161.
• From Chocolate to Morphine: 114-122
• PBS "Frontline" interview with David Musto.
• Schlosser, Eric. (1994). "Reefer Madness," The Atlantic Monthly, August, pp.45-63.
• Thompson, Don. (2003). "Pot farms show strategic shift," Fresno Bee. December 16, 2003.

Browse

• Mack, Alison, and Joy, Janet. (2000).  "Can Marijuana Help?," Chapter 2 in Marijuana As Medicine?: The Science Beyond the Controversy. Institute of Medicine, National Academy Press. 13-37.

February 11
Hallucinogens/
Psychedelics
 

Robin Williams once said, "If you can remember the 60s, you weren't there."  Today we will be joined by a guest, Don Jones, who was there and does remember them.  He also remembers the 50s that came before and how the 50s made the 60s possible.  We will explore parallel social developments related to hallucinogens/psychedelics that took place on the West and East coasts, with Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary respectively presiding,  and how none of this could have happened without the U.S. military.

Guest: Don Jones, Community Member

Read

• From Chocolate to Morphine: 93-110, 132-136
• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "War in Eden: Origins of Plant Drugs," in Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 19-23.
• Wolfe, Tom. (1968). "What Do You Think of My Buddha," Chapter 4 of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, New York: Bantam, as "What Do You Think of My Buddies," in Park, Peter and Matveychuk, Wasyl. (1986). Culture and Politics of Drugs, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/ Hunt, pp.231-240.
• Blakeslee, Sandra. (2001). "Scientists Test Hallucinogens for Mental Ills," The New York Times, March 13.

February 18
Cocaine, Opiates,
and Amphetamines

While it is rather difficult to fully explore the multiple contexts of coca and its derivatives, opiates, and amphetamines in the course of one class period, today we will give a cursory look at the shifting nature of these drugs' relationships with people from cultural agents, to medical agents, to, finally, agents of destruction.

Read

• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "Forced March: Cocoa and Cocaine," in Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 168-171, 173-175.
   From Chocolate to Morphine: 44-47
• Dunlap, Eloise, and Johnson, Bruce D. (1992). "The Setting for the Crack Era: Macro Forces, Micro Consequences (1960-1992)," Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 24(4), pp.307-321.
• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "Milk of Paradise: Romance and Addiction with Opium," in  Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 125-128.
• From Chocolate to Morphine: 81-90
• Helmer, John. (1975). "The Chinese Opium Crusade," Drugs and Minority Oppression, The Continuum Publishing Company, in Park, Peter and Matveychuk, Wasyl. (1986). Culture and Politics of Drugs, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, pp.176-184.
• Wong-Anan, Nopporn. (2003). "UN Sees Rapid Rise in Amphetamine Use Worldwide." Reuters. June 20.
• From Chocolate to Morphine: 47-50, 108-109 (MDMA)

Browse

• "Methamphetamine Fact Book: A Community Handbook and Resource Guide," Humboldt County Speed Prevention and Awareness Network (SPAN).

Only recently have professionals begun to regard tobacco as a "drug."  One of the few clearly consciousness-altering substances that remains legal, tobacco use and abuse must currently be understood in the context of a commercial enterprise.  It is a dramatic example of how drug use, drug abuse, and addiction cannot be fully understood within an individualistic lens.

Read

• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "A Shrewdness of Apes: Learning to Use Tobacco and Other Drugs," in Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 82-84.
• From Chocolate to Morphine: 50-54
• "Philip Morris/Kraft North American Brands"  
• Monardi, Fred, and Glantz, Stanton. (1998). "Are tobacco industry campaign contributions influencing state legislative behavior?" American Journal of Public Health, 88(6), 918-924.
• Saillant, Catherine. (2003). "Smoking Issue a Quandary for Psychiatric Facilities," Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2003.

Browse

• Chandler, Daniel. (2002). The Impact of Tobacco in Humboldt County, Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Branch.
• World Health Organization. (2003). Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

March 3
Alcohol

 

Alcohol is the most widely used substance generally considered to be a drug.  This is true across the U.S., across the world, and across history.  Regulation of alcohol has been central to far-reaching social movements, bringing forth influences on the abolishment of slavery and the recognition that women, too, are entitled to rights under the Constitution.  Alcohol is a legal commercial product.  It thus holds a unique place in popular culture as it shapes and is shaped by that culture.

Read

• Siegel, Ronald. (1989). "Ark on the Rocks: Alcohol as the Universal Intoxicant," in  Intoxication, New York: E.P. Dutton, pp. 101-104.
   From Chocolate to Morphine: 60-67
• Hobson, Richmond P. (1914). "The Prohibition Amendment," Congressional Record, December 22, in Park, Peter and Matveychuk, Wasyl.(1986). Culture and Politics of Drugs, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt, pp.142-146.
• Musto, David. (1996). "Alcohol in American History," Scientific American, 274(4), pp.78-83.

Mood-altering substances that are prescribed by physicians for the treatment of specific problems are commonly referred to as pharmaceuticals, psychotropics, or psychiatric medications.  While they have appeared relatively recently on the drug scene, they have quickly ascended to become the most widespread drugs of abuse.  What are they called?  What are they used for?  Where did they come from?  How did they become so ubiquitous?  These questions will be considered.  We will also talk about drugs frequently used and abused that don't fit into any of the previous categories we've explored.  Also on the agenda for today is to bring the conversation about drugs into a local context.  We will talk about the impact drugs have on the community of Humboldt County.

Read

• From Chocolate to Morphine: 77-78 (GHB), 139-140 (ketamine), 39-44 (caffeine)
• Durant, Chris.(2002). "Pot in Humboldt County: Both sides of the story," Eureka Times-Standard. October 20, 21, 2002.
• Arthurs, Sara Watson, and Driscoll, John. (2003). "Pain Matrix: Disability, cancer -- and Humboldt's drug-tolerant culture -- mean more prescribed narcotics here than elsewhere in the state," Eureka Times-Standard. December 14, 2003.

Browse

• The Impact of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Humboldt County, Humboldt County Department of Public Health (December, 1999).

While we cannot investigate every aspect of United States' drug control policy, we will do our best to hit on some of the most significant events in the last century, such as the influences on and influences of the Pure Food and Drug Act (1906), the Harrison Narcotics Act (1914), Prohibition (1919), the Marihuana Tax Act (1937), the Controlled Substances Act (1970), and the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts (1986, 1988, 1989).  The present administration's approach that links drug use with terrorism will be explored and we will examine the most current National Drug Control Strategy.  We will also be joined later on by Paul Gallegos, Humboldt County District Attorney, and Jamie Flower, former Humboldt County Deputy Public Defender.

Guests

• Paul Gallegos, Humboldt County District Attorney
• Jamie Flower, former Humboldt County Deputy Public Defender

Read

• Musto, David. (1991). "Opium, Cocaine and Marijuana in American History," Scientific American, 265(1), pp. 20-27.
• Schlosser, Eric. (1994). "Marijuana and the Law," The Atlantic Monthly, September, pp.84-94. [You can skip this if you don't feel like you have time.]
• Schlosser, Eric. (1997). "More Reefer Madness," The Atlantic Monthly, April, pp.90-102.
• "Introduction" and "National Priorities" of the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2003 National Drug Control Strategy, pp.1-26. [Hopefully, the 2004 document will be available by now.]
• Delsohn, Gary. (2003). "Major parole moves on the table," Sacramento Bee, December 27.
• Nadelmann, Ethan A. (1992). "Thinking Seriously About Alternatives to Drug Prohibition," Daedalus, 121(3), pp.85-132.

Of all the strategies used to control drug use and drug abuse, prevention receives the least resources.  One might wonder whether drug use is an amenable target for prevention or if drug abuse is a more appropriate target.  Today we will go over some statistics that remind us of the importance of drug abuse prevention activities.  We will explore some traditional and some progressive approaches to drug use/abuse prevention, and we will be joined by Bryce Kyburz, Health Educator, Humboldt State University, who will talk about his efforts to bring a prevention focus to alcohol and other drug issues on campus.

Guest

• Bruce Kyburz, Health Educator, Humboldt State University

**Activity #2 (prevention websites review) due**

Read

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). Results from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Chapter 2, "Illicit Drug Use."
• Ennett, Susan, Tobler, Nancy, Ringwalt, Christopher, and Flewelling, Robert. (1994). "How Effective is Drug Abuse Resistance Education: A Meta-Analysis of Project DARE Outcome Evaluations," American Journal of Public Health, 84(9), pp. 1394-1401.
• Yamaguchi, Ryoko, Johnston, Lloyd, and O'Malley, Patrick. (2003). "Student drug testing not effective in reducing drug use," Monitoring the Future, The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research.
• Lipsitt, Lewis P. (Ed.). (1997). "Drug abuse prevention: Programs that work," The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, pp.1-6.
• Dishion, Thomas, Kavanagh, Kathryn, Schneiger, Alison, Nelson, Sarah, and Kaufman, Noah. (2002). "Preventing Early Adolescent Substance Use: A Family-Centered Strategy for the Public Middle School." Prevention Science, 3(3), pp. 191-201.

Browse

• "Previews" on the Project ALERT website

March 31
No Class
(Cesar Chavez Day)
 

April 14
Treatment: Medical, Social, and Family Systems Models

 

Guest

• Gordon Costello, Executive Director, North Coast Substance Abuse Council

Read 

• Faupel, Charles, Horowitz, Alan, and Weaver, Gregory. (2004). "Therapeutic Responses to Drug Problems: Drug Treatment," Chapter 12 in The Sociology of American Drug Use. Boston: McGraw-Hill. pp.373-403.
• Burke, Anna, and Clapp, John. (1997). "Ideology and Social Work Practice in Substance Abuse Settings," Social Work, 42(6), pp.552-562.
• Nadelmann, Ethan. (2002). "No Longer Hope for Progress," Counselor Magazine, 3(4).

April 21
Treatment: Strength-Based Perspectives

 

While the "medical model" may be the dominant approach in substance abuse treatment, there is a growing movement to integrate into existing treatment philosophies, or offer as alternatives, therapeutic practices grounded in wider ecological contexts than merely individuals and their families.  Work that builds on people's strengths and celebrates their achievements rather than fixing their deficits and grieving their failures offers inspiration to people seeking services and those providing services alike.

Read

• Morris, James, Gawinski, Barbara, Joanning, Harvey. (1991). "Five Strategies for Enlisting Family Involvement in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment," Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 2(4), pp.41-52.
• van Wormer, Katherine, and Davis, Diane Rae. (2002). "Strengths-Based Helping Strategies," Chapter 3 in Addiction Treatment: A Strengths Perspective. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. 66-94.
• Okundaye, Joshua, Smith, Pamela, and Lawrence-Webb, Claudia. (2001). "Incorporating Spirituality and the Strengths Perspective into Social Work Practice with Addicted Individuals," Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(1), pp.65-82.
• James, Kirra, and Perry, Loretta. (1997). "Living with the past," Dulwich Centre Newsletter, Nos. 2&3, pp.7-14.
  

April 28
Harm Reduction

 

While the United States continues to largely spend resources on stopping people from using drugs, many other countries in the world have adopted policies and practices that aim to reduce the harm that results from drug abuse.  Known as "harm reduction," these policies and practices happen within prevention and treatment contexts.  The most well-known example, and the one with the most, albeit limited, acceptance in the United States is  "needle exchange," which allows intravenous drug users to trade their used needles for clean ones, thereby reducing the risk from various infections.  Roxanne Fereydouni, Program Manager, RAVEN Program, Youth Service Bureau, Redwood Community Action Agency, will join us to talk about her program and the larger harm reduction movement.

Guest

• Roxanne Fereydouni, Program Manager, Redwood Community Action Agency, Youth Service Bureau, RAVEN Project

**Activity #4 (reflections on reading) due**

Read

• Duncan, David, Nicholson, Thomas, Clifford, Patrick, Hawkins, Wesley, and Petosa, Rick. (1994). "Harm Reduction: An Emerging New Paradigm for Drug Education," Journal of Drug Education, 24(4), pp.281-290.
• Zelvin, Elizabeth, and Davis, Diane. (2001). "Harm Reduction and Abstinence Based Recovery: A Dialogue," Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1(1), pp.121-133.
• Scotto. (2001). "DanceSafe Seattle: Psychedelic Harm Reduction In Action," Trip. Fall, 2001 (6).
• Hainsworth, Jeremy. (2003). "Canada Plans Injection Site for Addicts," Associated Press, June 27, 2003.
• Moss, Penni and Butterworth, Paul. (1999). Mosaic: an alternative resource for working with young people around drug use. Adelaide, Australia: Dulwich Centre Publications.
  
   

May 5
Other Faces of
Drugs / Closing

 

Before wrapping up the course and reflecting on its usefulness, we will talk about sides of drug use and drug abuse that are rendered invisible under the regime of individualism (e.g., individual choice, individual liberty, individual problem), including exploitation and the effects of production, distribution, and consumption of drugs on the environment.  We will also watch a video as part of the last graded activity of a young man and his father talking about the effects of alcohol and other drugs in their lives.

**Activity #3 (therapeutic interviewing) is due in my box by 3:00pm on May 12.**

Read

• Driscoll, John. (2003). "A darker side of pot growing," Eureka Times-Standard. June 13, 2003.
• Walsh, Denny. (2003). "15-year penalty asked in pot trial," Sacramento Bee. November 15.