Drugs--one of the most hotly debated topics in America today. Why
are alcohol and tobacco legal but marijuana and heroin illegal?  How
do people choose the drugs they use/abuse?  Does a drug culture
exist?
How might the government benefit from certain drug prohibitions?
This course is designed to delve into the broad topic of drugs in
American society with a critical look at how we define drugs and
use/abuse, a historical look at peoples' relationships with drugs,
and developments in our social/cultural reaction to various drugs.
And, as we explore various avenues of information in these areas, it
is essential to view this material with a critical eye--how is
information about drugs being presented to us from these various
sources?  For example, who educates us about drugs as children and
decides how that information will be presented?  Why is it done this
way?

Texts:
Inciardi, J. (2002) The War on Drugs III. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Drugs Reader prepared by instructor.

Additional Readings on e-reserves (check oncourse for reading
schedule and further information)

Outside Sources:  For the papers you will be asked to integrate
outside material--books, articles, magazines, film, websites,
government documents, and interviews are acceptable.  Please check
out the links to different drug related websites that I have
included on oncourse.


Tentative Course Breakdown and Schedule
Section I  Drugs in America, The Beginning--Definitions,
Description, History Section II Use, Abuse and Cultural Stereotypes
Section III  War on Drugs and other Avenues of Control Section IV
Treatment and Prevention Approaches Section V What Next?

Class Meeting:  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:45, LI 033

Instructor:  Michelle Ross, criminal justice department