Alcohol Use and Abuse:
|
 |
|
|
BIDS 295 Fall Term, 2007 M/W 1:25pm-2:50pm Stern Hall 304 |
|
|
Professor H. Wesley Professor H. Wesley Perkins, Dept. of Anthropology/Sociology, Stern Hall 214, ext. 3437, perkins@hws.edu, Office Hrs: M 3-4pm and W/F 10-11am. Professor Perkins will be the primary instructor for this course with special expertise in the psychological and socio-cultural dimensions of alcohol use and abuse. He will be leading most of the classes and will be responsible for most assignments and evaluations.
Professor David W. Craig, Dept. of Chemistry, Rosenberg
111, ext. 3611, craig@hws.edu, Office Hrs: M/W/Th/F 8-10am. Professor
Craig has contributed to the design of this course and often co-teaches
it, but demands of his Departmental course responsibilities limit his
involvement in the course this term. He will, however, continue to play
a significant secondary role throughout the term by providing several
lectures, individual consultation, and evaluation for student work focused
on the biochemical dimensions of this topic.
Course Description
Alcoholic beverages are consumed by most adults in contemporary American
society. Alcohol is also the most widely used and abused drug. On the
one hand, attractions, pleasures, and possible benefits of alcohol consumption
can
be identified as motivations for widespread use. On the other hand, the
debilitating effect and costs of heavy drinking and alcoholism on the
health of individuals, families, and society in general are enormous.
This course examines the causes and consequences of alcohol use and misuse
both in terms of its biochemical and social construction. This course
brings together natural science and social science contributions to the
interdisciplinary study of this phenomenon by incorporating a variety
of academic perspectives including biology, chemistry, psychology, epidemiology,
and sociology and by making extensive use of multimedia resources. We
explore the effect of family, genetics, peers, ethnicity, and gender on
drinking behavior along with the chemical properties and physiological
effects of alcohol on the human body. Social patterns of drinking in various
societal contexts will also be examined. Discussion of controversial issues
concerning alcohol consumption will include concepts of abuse, theories
of addiction, effective treatment approaches, blood alcohol limits for
driving, minimum drinking age limits, treatment and punishment of DWI
offenders, alcohol testing in work and sports contexts, and restrictions
on advertising. Students are encouraged to developed course work that
can be shared with the larger academic and local community. BD295 provides
course credit for Sociology and Public Policy majors and minors. It has
been recognized nationally as a model for courses about substance use
and abuse by the U.S. Dept of Education’s Higher Education Center
for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
Acknowledgements: Support for course development, equipment, other materials, and curricular innovations was provided, in part, by grants from the U.S. Department of Education.
Course Requirements and Policies
Required texts and readings are listed here. The books are available in the college bookstore. Research articles are available in the library or reprints will be distributed in class. The Syllabus Schedule lists the dates for completion of assigned readings.
The Syllabus Schedule summarizes all assignment due dates, examinations, and the sequence of lecture/discussion topics.
Written Assignments in addition to required film showings and examinations are described here. All written assignments are described here along with infolink production requirements.
Grading Policies are described here.
Course Resources
Web Link Resources from campus, national, and international sources of information about alcohol and other drugs are listed here.
The Alcohol and Other Drugs Bibliography lists journals and books available in Warren Huntington Smith Library.
HWS Faculty Research Publications on Alcohol and other drugs are listed here.
Video Resources on Reserve in Warren Hunting Smith Library on Alcohol and other drugs are listed here.
The Alcohol Education Project at Hobart and William Smith Colleges is a comprehensive array of initiatives directed toward alcohol and other drug and violence prevention in higher education including basic research, media campaigns, and curriculum programs.