3315E-001
Psychology 3315E-001
Addictions: Theory and Research
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to major topics in the prevention and treatment of various forms of addictive behaviour. The course also involves a structured community service learning component in which students will help addictions-related organizations meet their identified needs. This work will not necessarily involve direct client contact.
Prerequisites: Psychology 2820E or both Psychology 2800E and 2810. Registration is by special permission only and must be obtained from the course instructor in the spring/summer before the course begins in the fall term
2 seminar hours, 3 placement hours, 1.0 course (This course has a service learning component)
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Riley Hinson
Office and Phone Number: 7308 SSC, 519-661-2111 ext 84649
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: hinson@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Tuesdays, 2:30-4:30 Lawson Hall 2210
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the course is to provide students exposure to both the scholarly literature and research related to many aspects of addiction. From the placement, students are expected to gain experience as to how some of the ideas and concepts discussed in lecture unfold in settings providing addiction related services.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course the successful student should be able to:
- Memorize, describe and apply main concepts and principles related to drug use and addiction
- Locate and critically evaluate scholarly material related to real world challenges faced by those with drug use problems and those providing help to such individuals
- Communicate scientific information in oral and written forms that are accessible to those involved real world delivery of addiction services and treatment
- Critique information presented in scientific and popular media related to drug use and drug addiction
- Manage and deliver a project that is of value to a community organization involved in providing services to those with drug addiction, which would involve conceptualization, planning, coordination of efforts, time management
- Engage in reflection about drug users and those who are engaged in helping them to experience personal growth and to be able to more accurately inform others about drug addiction
- Recognize and develop own sense of commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility
5.0 EVALUATION
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
Your grade will be based on the following:
10 points
Plan and discussion of project occurring during week of October 25th. Each group will meet with me to discuss their project. Expectations are that a detailed outline/plan of what they are doing and how they plan to accomplish the finished project will be discussed. Where appropriate a preliminary annotated bibliography is expected. A brief overview in either written or power point form is also required.
10 points
The in-class presentation/discussion of news articles related to drugs/drug use/treatment, etc. will be worth a total of 10 points over the entire year. You will receive evaluation of 5 of these points by Nov. 23. Evaluation will be based on presentation (if you are asked to present in a particular week) and discussion for all of the presentations.
10 points
The mid-term/December oral/written presentations will be worth 10 points. Both of these may (should) be done as group work, i.e., you do not submit separate oral/written components. You work together to decide how to present/write as a team (a collaborative skill that will be useful in future endeavors)
20 points
The write up of the project. There is no specific format since it will vary by project, but it should use APA formatting (where appropriate) and should comprise a scholarly review component (this is basically what you should have finished by the Dec. presentation) and then a presentation of what the actual project was.
20 points
1 hour power point presentation of your project, with community partner in attendance. Evaluation will be based on quality of presentation and answering of questions that arise during the presentation.
20 points
Community partners will give you points to a maximum of 20 based on their evaluation of involvement in the organization, participation, handling of any responsibilities, and conduct of project
10 points
Attendance and participation in activities, both in the classroom and outside the classroom (with understanding that it may be difficult for students to make all extra-class activities.
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Learning Outcome
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Learning Activities |
How Assessed |
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Knowledge and Understanding |
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1. Depth & Breadth of Knowledge Memorize (M), describe (D) and apply (A) main concepts and principles related to drug use and addiction |
Reading Class discussion Guest lectures Community project |
Oral Presentations of current news Contribution to Class Discussion (DA) Final Report (DA) Final Presentation (DA) |
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Abilities |
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2. Knowledge and Application of Methodologies Locate and critically evaluate scholarly material related to real world challenges faced by those with drug use problems and those providing help to such individuals |
Community project Classroom activity |
December oral/written reports Final Report Contribution to class activity Final class oral presentation |
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3. Communication Skills Communicate scientific information in oral and written forms that are accessible to those involved in real world settings. |
Community project Classroom activity |
As assessed by setting supervisor Contribution to class activity Final Report Final class oral presentation |
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4. Autonomy and Professional Capacity Manage and deliver a project that is of value to a community organization |
Community project |
As assessed by setting supervisor (in consultation with course instructor) |
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Attributes |
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5. Awareness of Limits of Knowledge Engage in reflection about what you have experienced in the community settings |
Community project CEL logs Class presentation on reflection Class discussion |
Instructor evaluation of CEL logs Contribution to class discussions Final report and presentation As assessed by setting supervisor, in consultation with instructor. |
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6. Autonomy and Professional Capacity Recognize and develop own sense of commitment to civic engagement and social responsibility. |
Community project Field trips
Class discussions |
Instructor evaluation of CEL logs. Final report and presentation Post course reflection session
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6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
There are no tests or examinations
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
A 2 hour class meeting is scheduled for each week. The first few classes will involves a discussion of different classes of drugs, some of the important concepts related to drug use, some of the history of the conceptualization of drug addiction and treatment, and DSM V 's approach to drug use disorders. These classes will be more of a lecture format.
After the initial material has been presented, the classes will be more of a seminar format. For each of these students will be asked to find a news article relating to a specific drug (each seminar will focus on one of the 10 classes of drugs recognized by DSM V). The news article may be found by visiting different news organization web sites (e.g. but not limited to, CNN, Fox News, New York Times, New York Daily News, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, etc). Each student will locate one article related to the drug to be discussed that week, and will post the URL to OWL so that each student will find a different article. For each article the student will find some relevant information about the topic in the article. As an example, if a student finds an article about people having an adverse reaction to synthetic cannabinoids then the student should be able to provide the class with some context for the article, e.g., what are synthetic cannabinoids, or why were they ever developed, or do they have any beneficial use, or what is their legal status. It should be something which you think the other students might ask about in the context of an article relating synthetic cannabinoids adverse reactions).
In addition to these drug-related discussions some seminars will deal with topics related to drug use and drug treatment. The topics will be chosen to be relevant to the projects that you will be doing with the community partners--topics may be harm reduction, gaming among adolescents, supportive housing, after care programs, co-dependency, drug treatment courts. Some topics may also arise as a result of our field trips or guest speakers.
Some of the classes may be replaced by special activities such as field trips, visits to drug treatment organizations, or guest lectures. Some of the field trips and visits to organizations may take place outside of scheduled class meeting times. While it is hoped that all students will be able to attend these extra-class activities, it is understood that since they are outside of scheduled class times there may be some activities that students cannot attend.
Here is a schedule of events (it is subject to change)
Sept. 13: Welcome to class and discussion of projects and class organization
Sept. 20: Community Partner Fair---all of the community partners will gather to meet with students. This is where you will have an opportunity to find out more about each community partner and the project we will be doing for them.
Sept. 27: Lisa Boyko, Community Engaged Learning Coordinator – Curricular Programs (Experiential Learning) will be coming to talk about Reflection and how it is an important part of Community Service Learning. We will also engage in some pre-course reflection activities. At the end of the year we will engage in similar post-course reflection activities to see how your community involvement has changed your reflections on drug use and people with substance use disorders.
Sept. 28: SPECIAL CLASS: From 5-6:30 on this Wednesday we will join Dr. Leora’s Swartzman’s Community Psychology CSL course, along with one of our community partners and someone from the CSL office, for a presentation/discussion of ethical and professional issues related to community engaged learning placements. There are special issues that arise when students are placed in settings that have a vulnerable client population, and these will be covered in this presentation.
Oct. 4: Basic Concepts of Drug Use and Addiction
Oct. 11: Some Historical Context on Addiction and Treatment
Oct. 18: DSM V Substance Use Disorders/Comorbidity
Oct. 25: During this week I will meet individually with each community placement group to discuss their project—there will be a graded component to the meeting---see evaluation above
Nov. 1: Seminar involving discussion of news articles related to specific drug—drug to be announced
Nov 8: Seminar involving discussion of news articles related to specific drug—drug to be announced
Nov. 15: Seminar involving discussion of news articles related to specific drug—drug to be announced
Nov. 22/29/Dec. 6: Mid Term Student Oral Presentation related to project---there will also be a written part that will be due by the end of the exam period (Dec. 21)
Jan 10/17/24: Seminar involving discussion of news articles related to specific drug—drug to be announced
Jan. 31: Individual meetings with each community placement group to discuss status of project---these meeting will be schedule individually and will replace the schedule class for that week
Feb. 7/14/28/March 7: Seminar involving discussion of news articles related to specific drug—drug to be announced
March 14: End of year Reflection with Lisa Boyko
March 21/28/April 4: Community Project presentations---1 hour power point presentation for each group with community partner in attendance---2 groups per class
Any of the above is subject to substitution based on having guest speakers or opportunities to visit sites.
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2016/pg117.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2016 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
