Drugs and behavior

Instructions

This is a minimum 1000 word (5 typed double-spaced) page research and opinion essay on a topic of current concern regarding the field of drugs and behavior. All sources must be documented using APA style standards.

A list of topics is provided to help you choose from.

You will offer a concise explanation of your topic, any current issues about the topic, major positions on the topic/issues, impact on the individual, family or society based on what you have learned, and an annotated list of resources for more information on that topic. You should conclude with a thoughtful presentation of your own opinion about the issue.

Points Grading Criteria
20
Explanation of topic
25
Current issues / major positions about the topic
20
Impact on the individual, family or society
20
Thoughtful presentation of your own opinion
10
Meeting the 1000 word minimum
5
Proper use of APA formatting, list of resources and variety
100
Total points

Hot Topics Ideas
-The use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes
-Methadone Maintenance Programs
-Suboxone Clinics in the Community
-Drug testing employees
-Drug treatment for jail inmates
-Drugged Driving
-Needle exchange programs
-Using hypnosis to assist individuals in quitting smoking
-School Based Prevention Programs – ex: what happened to DARE?
-Trends in Sexual Addictions and Drug Use
-Bootcamp style treatment centers for adolescents
-Medication assisted therapy for treating addicts
-Requiring addicts to quit smoking while in residential treatment programs
-Drug courts in Ohio
-California’s mandatory treatment for drug offenses (treatment versus jail)
-Should treatment programs require participants to attend AA/NA (religious objections)
-Is the legal system too hard on drug offenders (mandatory sentencing)
-Recent changes in sentencing laws due to racial disparity (cocaine vs crack cocaine)
-Urine testing for those individuals filing for unemployment (good thing or not)
-Workers compensation denying benefits if anyone tests positive for substances (if injured on job)
-Impact of new Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion on drug and alcohol treatment
-Harm reduction (good or not?)
-Should CPS remove children from the mother if they test positive at birth?
-Diagnosing Adolescents (are they really dependent?)
-Types of drug tests (can you trust the results of the test?)
-Distinctions between addiction and dependence (use of pain medications or other medications)
-The Rat Park experiments
-The “war on drugs” and reform of the judicial system
-Portugal and other countries that have decriminalizing drugs
-The Surgeon General’s report