THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
ADSC 1000: INTRODUCTION TO ADDICTION STUDIES
Course Outline – Fall Semester, 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
Email:
Jason Solowoniuk, B.H.Sc., M.Ed., CCC
M3034/Classroom TH201
By appointment
403-329-2597
[email protected]
“In the course of history many more people have died for their drink and their dope than have died for
their religion or their country.”
Aldous Huxley
“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.”
Carl Jung
“Genes and the environment jointly determine alcohol and drug addictions.”
Denis Thombs
“The modern, so-called ‘scientific’ disease model of alcoholism comprises a mass of prejudices and
misinformation.”
Stanton Peele
“Virtually every addictive act is preceded by a feeling of helplessness or powerlessness. Addictive
behavior functions to repair this underlying feeling of helplessness.”
Lance Dodes
“Junk is just not a habit. It is a way of life. When you give up junk, you give up a way of life.”
William Burroughs
“Through drinking and drugging I have come to meet god…And he was scared of me!”
Author Unknown
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The previous quotes hardly scrape the surface toward introducing the study of addictions. Thus, in this
course students will explore addiction, highlighting its bio-psycho-social-spiritual components. In this light,
students will inquire into how and why addiction continues to assert its deconstructive force on individuals
and societies alike. A particular emphasis will be placed on understanding addiction from a variety of
theoretical models and perspectives including student phenomenological inquiry, exploration and
analysis.
2
Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA) Core Competencies covered in this Course
Technical Competencies
Behavioral Competencies
 Understanding Substance Use, Abuse, and
 Analytical Thinking & Decision Making
 Client Centred Change
 Continuous Learning
 Self-Care
Dependency
 Mental Health / Dual Diagnosis
COURSE GOALS/OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:






Reflect on the sociocultural, political and phenomenological roots of addiction.
Reflect on the addiction treatment industry.
Understand how individual, societal, and cultural attitudes towards addiction impact contemporary
society.
Describe etiological theories underpinning addiction.
Reflect on basic treatment perspectives for addicted persons.
Describe transpersonal/cultural perspectives relating to addiction.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY AND ESSENTIAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES:
The course material will be presented using a combination of lectures, experiential-based class activities,
self-reflective exercises, and guest lectures. The emphasis is on student participation, self-reflection,
exploration and sharing so that the theoretical and phenomenological concepts learned can be applied and
integrated into the self.
WHEN AND WHERE:
The course is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., in room TH201.
3
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK (COURSEPACK)
In addition, **mandatory** PDF readings will also be posted online by the instructor.
GRADING BREAKDOWN:
The grading system for this course is consistent with that established in the Faculty of Health Sciences,
effective May, 2002
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
Percentage
95 - 100
91 – 94.9
87 – 90.9
83 – 86.9
79 – 82.9
75 – 78.9
71 – 74.9
67 – 70.9
63 – 66.9
59 – 62.9
55 – 58.9
0 – 54.9
Grade Points
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
ASSIGNMENTS:
1)
Multiple Choice Quizzes (2 X 10%)
20%
(To be discussed in class)
2)
Midterm (MC and Inquiry/Essay)
30%
(To be discussed in class)
3)
Final Exam
20%
(In Class Essays)
4)
Journals X 2
20%
(To be discussed in class)
5)
Attendance
10%
(To be discussed in class)
PLAGIARISM STATEMENT:
The University of Lethbridge subscribes to Turnitin.com, a plagiarism detection service. Please be
advised that student work submitted for credit in this course may be submitted to this system to verify its
originality. Students must be able to submit both electronic and hard copy versions of their work upon
request.
4
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. If you have
been diagnosed with a disability, there is no need to face the challenge of University without support.
Please contact the Accommodated Learning Centre at 403-329-2766 to set up an appointment
http://www.uleth.ca/ross/counselling/index.html. After registering with the Accommodated Learning
Centre, your instructor will be notified by a formal letter of any accommodations you require. In addition,
students are responsible for requesting accommodations from the instructor at least *two weeks* in
advance of the evaluation date. The instructor and student are jointly responsible for arranging the
resources needed for the evaluation process.
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT:
All University of Lethbridge students, faculty and staff must comply with Canadian law and institutional
license agreements pertaining to copyright. At the same time, keeping abreast of our copyright obligations
and options is a complex task as copyright matters locally and globally are in flux and are likely to remain
so for at least the near future.
The University’s Copyright website (www.uleth.ca/copyright) is a source of current copyright information
that includes:
 answers to common copyright questions (see the FAQs),
 guidance on whether you need permission or a license to copy a particular work (see the
Copyright Permissions Flow Chart),
 guidance on assessing whether fair dealing may apply to specific instances of copying you wish
to undertake (see the Guidelines for Copying under Fair Dealing), and
 a permissions look-up tool to help you determine the kinds of copying and other uses permitted
by the Library’s license agreements covering specific online journals and other online resources.
You are encouraged to contact the University Copyright Advisor ([email protected]) for assistance with
any copyright questions or issues.
COURSE SCHEDULE (tentative and subject to change):
Class
#
Date
Topic(s)
Required Reading/
Assignments
Sept. 8
Instructor introductions, expectations, learning
perspectives. Student introduction (why taking
course, major, etc.). Review outline (inquiries,
midterm and final exam, attendance)
2
Sept. 13
Ancient and Historical Perspectives
3
Sept. 15
Lecture 1: Addiction: Setting the Stage
4
Sept. 20
Lecture 2: The Medical Model of Addiction
5
Sept. 22
Lecture 3: Self-Help Groups
6
Sept. 27
Lecture 4: Why Addiction is Not a Disease
7
Sept. 29
Lecture 5. Addiction to Experience Part I
Quiz 1
Reading for Sep. 13
Chapters 1-2
Reading for Sep. 20
Chapter 3
Reading for Sep. 22
Chapter 4
Reading for Sep.27
Chapter 5
Reading for Sep. 29
Chapter 6.
Study for 1st quiz
Reading for Oct. 4
Finish Chapter 6
8
Oct. 4
Lecture 7: Addiction to Experience, Finish Part I
No reading for Oct. 8
1
No required readings
5
Class
#
Date
9
Oct. 6
Lecture 8: Addiction to Experience, Part II
10
Oct. 11
Lecture 9: Self-Medication and Addiction, Part I
11
Oct. 13
Lecture 10:Self-Medication and Addiction, Part II
12
Oct. 18
Lecture 11: Dual Diagnosis
13
Oct. 20
Midterm Part A (Multiple Choice)
14
Oct. 25
Midterm Part B (Essay)
15
Oct. 27
Lecture 12: The Culture of Addiction, Part I
16
Nov. 1
Lecture 13: The Culture of Addiction, Part II
17
Nov. 3
Lecture 14: The Dharma Punk
Nov. 7-11
Topic(s)
Required Reading/
Assignments
Reading for Oct. 11
Online PDF Chapter 7
Reading for Oct. 13
Finish Chapter 7
Reading for Oct 18.
(Chapter 8)
Study for Midterm
First Journal Due (5
entries)
Study for Midterm
Reading for Oct 27.
Online PDF (Chapter 9)
Reading for Nov 1. Finish
Online PDF (Chapter 9)
Reading for Nov 3.
Chapter 10
Reading for Nov. 15
Online PDF (Chapter 11)
Fall Reading Week – No Classes
18
Nov. 15
Lecture 15: The Dislocation Theory Part I
19
Nov. 17
Lecture 16: Dislocation Theory Part II
20
Nov. 22
Lecture 17: Sex Addiction (Guest Lecturer)
Cont. Reading for Nov
17. Online PDF (Chapter
11)
Reading for Nov. 22
Chapter 12
Reading for Nov 24.
Chapter 13/14
21
Nov. 24
Lecture 18: The Heart of Addiction: Displacement /
Relapse Prevention
Reading for Nov 26.
Chapter 15
Study for 2nd quiz
22
Nov. 29
Lecture 19: Staying in the Action Part I
Quiz 2
23
Dec. 1
Lecture 20: Staying in the Action Part II
24
Dec. 6
In Class Final
Finish Reading for
Nov 29. Chapter 15
Study for Final
4 Journals Due