PIERCE COLLEGE

ADDICTION STUDIES PROGRAM

Course Syllabus

 

Addiction Studies 1 – Understanding Addiction and Counseling

Monday – Thursday, Canvas Online, Section 13233

February 8th – June 7th, 2022 – 3 Units

Professor: Allen D. Glass II

Telephone: (818) 710-2282

E-mail: glassad@piercecollege.edu

Office: BEH 1306E

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 3:00pm – 4:45pm

 

“I didn’t have to experience anything that Hank did to know what he was singing about. I’d never seen a robin weep, but could imagine it and it made me sad. When he sang, “the news is out all over town,” I knew what news that was, even though I didn’t know. The first chance I got, I was going to go to the dance and wear out my shoes, too.”

                                  ~ Bob Dylan writing about Hank Williams

“You don’t have to be a whale to write Moby Dick.”

                                            ~ Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.

“I own thy speechless, placeless power; but to the last grasp of my earthquake life will dispute its unconditional unintegral mastery in me. In the midst of the personified impersonal, a personality stands here.

                            ~ Captain Ahab speaking to lightning

 

Course Description

This course provides an in depth study of (as well as offering comprehensive information pertaining to) the nature of addiction, how to counsel those who are addicted and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in professional practice as a competent, educated, trained and certified addiction counselor. This course is specifically designed to: impart the knowledge, help develop the skills and acquire the attitudes for each of the 123 competencies required of a “competent” professional addiction counselor as identified in TAP 21, which is the standard set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

“I promise nothing complete; because any human thing supposed to be complete, must for that very reason infallibly be faulty.” ~ Herman Melville

 

Student Learning Objectives

 

• Students will be able to identify the signs and symptoms of addiction.

 

• Students will be able to describe the role of the counselor in the recovery process.

 

• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the 12-step recovery process and the therapeutic dynamics associated with this process.

 

• Demonstrate knowledge of the state certification process.

 

Extra Credit policy

There will be a few selected extra credit opportunities. Please note: extra credit is designed as a unique learning opportunity. It is not accepted in lieu of classroom participation and required coursework. Therefore, extra credit cannot increase a student’s grade by anything but a few points.

 

Add/Drop Policy

The last day to drop classes without receiving a “W” on a transcript is February 21st, 2022. The last day to drop classes in order to receive a “W” on a transcript is May 8th, 2022. It is up to the student to drop the class, not the professor.

 

Incomplete policy

There will be no incompletes given for this class.

 

Punctuality

Students are expected to be in class on time. If you show up late you may not be allowed into the class and you will not get credit for the session. If you are not there when roll is called you will be marked absent.

 

Smoking

Pierce College is now a smoke free campus. Please be familiar with the non-smoking policy. If you are caught smoking on campus, you may be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Classroom Behavior

Disobedient, disruptive or disorderly behavior exhibited by any student may result in disciplinary action in accordance with District policies and procedures. Action may include, but is not limited to expulsion from class.

 

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
The faculty and administration of Pierce College are committed to the belief that honesty and integrity are integral components of the academic process. The College expects students to be honest and ethical at all times in their pursuit of academic goals. Students who violate the code of academic conduct by which the

College maintains its academic integrity will be dealt with in a manner reflecting the seriousness of these violations.

 

I. Violations of academic honesty and integrity occur when a student participates in any act in which he/she uses deception or fraud while performing an academic activity. Violations include, but are not limited to, the

following: Using study aids such as calculators, tape recorders or notes, when not authorized by the instructor. Cheating on examinations, assignments or experiments (allowing another student to copy one’s answers or copying the answers of other students; exchanging information by any means, including verbal exchanges, sign language, hand signals, secret codes, passed notes, creation of a distraction for the purpose of cheating; changing answers on a previously scored test, assignment or experiment; inventing information and/or data.) Allowing another student to assume one’s identity in order to fulfill an assignment or take a test. Submitting for a grade the words, ideas, and/or written work (including laboratory notes and drawings) of another person without giving due credit to that person. This includes purchased papers or papers written by other students, falsifying or attempting to falsify attendance records and/or grade rosters, and conspiring with other students to commit any of the above behaviors.

 

II. Consequences for any offense against academic honesty and integrity may include:  An “F” or a “0” on the examination or assignment. Suspension from the class and other sanctions and/or penalties authorized by the Board of Trustees for violations of the District Code of Conduct.   A record of the student’s violation placed in the student’s disciplinary file.  Students are required to be honest and complete their own work at all times (homework, class work, quizzes, tests, etc.).  Additional information about plagiarism can be found at www.plagiarism.org or through various websites on the Internet.

 

Academic Counseling Services – 818.719.6440   Student Services Bldg, 1^st floor

Academic counselors are available to assist you with many of your educational needs such as help in clarifying your values and goals; develop a student education plan (SEP); interpret articulation agreements with other colleges and universities, and much more.

 

ASSIST.org – www.assist.org (Links to an external site.)

ASSIST is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer in California.

 

Associated Students Organization – 818.719.6411

The Pierce College student government organization supports the growth of Pierce College through active involvement with students, faculty, and staff. Our goal is to create a better environment for an overall academic experience through leadership and club participation.

 

Career Center – 818.710.4126   Student Services Bldg 1^st floor

The mission of the Pierce Career Center is to educate and to serve the students of Pierce College in the career education, planning and development processes.  Career Center services and resources provide assistance to students with the exploration of career options, the cultivation of a comprehensive employment and education plan, and the enhancement of job search techniques and strategies.

 

Center for Academic Success – 818.719.6414  Library Learning Crossroads Bldg, 1^st floor

The CAS is committed to helping students in need of academic support acquire the skills and tools necessary to meet their individual academic, vocational, or personal goals. All tutoring services are free to currently enrolled Pierce College students.

 

Copy Tech – 818.710-3303   Bookstore Complex

Pierce College's High-Tech Document Production Center where students can make it, print it, and copy it, at the CopyTech! Copy Tech also issues picture ID cards to new students upon presentation of proof of enrollment (registration/fee receipt.)

 

Equal Opportunity Programs and Services – 818.719.6422   Student Services Bldg, 2^nd floor

EOP&S is a state-funded support program designed to assist qualified low-income and educationally disadvantaged students in completing their educational goals with the assistance of financial and student support services. It is an invitational program open only to those who qualify and commit to participate in the program.  

 

Financial Assistance – 818.719.6428   Student Services Bldg, 1^st floor
If you need help paying for books and other college expenses, please contact the Financial Aid Office.  Visit them on the web at http://www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid (Links to an external site.)

 

GAIN/CalWorks – 818.719.6400   Student Services Bldg, 2^nd floor

The GAIN/CalWORKs program serves all CalWORKs students attending Pierce College. A variety of services designed to support your educational, career and personal goals is offered, such as advocacy for child care, student education plans (SEP), work-study opportunities, child care in the campus Child Development Center for eligible children, and much more.

Health Center – 818.710.4270   Student Services Bldg, 2^nd floor

The Pierce College Student Health Center is committed to delivering expert medical care to students. Each student is given professional and cost effective medical attention. All registered students, regardless of insurance, are eligible for the same no charge or low cost care.  Personal Counseling is also available to all currently enrolled students. The Pierce College Student Health Center is committed to providing care to support your academic and personal well being.

 

Library – 818.710.2833   Library Learning Crossroads Bldg, 2^nd floor

The Pierce College Library serves all currently enrolled students, college faculty and staff, and members of the community. The library is a comfortable place to study, to investigate a topic of interest, or to enjoy reading a current book, periodical, or magazine. Please feel free to ask for assistance in using the library; a reference librarian is available to help you with your research questions. 

 

Pass-No-Pass Courses

Did you know you can take courses on a pass-no pass basis?  Pass-No Pass is a great way to maintain your GPA while you take classes that you may not be particularly strong in.  Any questions about Pass-No Pass check with an academic counselor.

 

Special Services – 818.719.6430   Student Services Bldg, 1^st floor
Students with disabilities, whether physical, learning, or psychological, who believe that they may need accommodations in this class, are encouraged to contact the office of Special Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Authorization, based on verification of disability, is required before any accommodation can be made.

 

Transfer Center – 818.710.4126   Student Services Bldg, 1^st floor

The mission of the Pierce College Transfer Center is to help students successfully transfer to a four year institution. The Transfer Center offers aid to students in the transfer process to ensure a smooth and positive transition.

 

Veterans Office – 818.710.3316    Student Services Bldg, 2^nd floor

The mission of the Pierce College Veterans Office is to provide a supportive environment for veterans and to assist them with the services they need to receive VA benefits and to successfully complete their educational goal at Pierce College.  The Veterans Office is designed as a liaison between you as a veteran and the Veterans Administration.  Our Veterans staff will forward all documents required by the Veterans Administration directly to the Muskogee Regional Office.

Our email contact is pierce-veteran@piercecollege.edu

 

Grading & Evaluation Criteria

 

You will be graded and evaluated on a point system that focuses on three categories:

 

Participation                                                                                   =   50 points

Time management is a counselor skill. You will find that you must possess an accurate sense of time to be an addiction treatment professional. Failure to arrive early enough to prepare for the class when it begins exactly on time, absences, lateness, absence during class, and early leaving, are measures of your attitudes as well as your competence in the skill of time management. Participation will be considered a significant component of this course. We will have regular quizzes and in-class written assignments that will assess the level of active student participation throughout the semester. These assignments will prove to cement the material covered and will not be difficult for the student who is present and actively engaged during the course.

   

Written Assignments                                                                                              =   50 points

Written assignments are valued equally. You may not receive your assignments back (so make copies of your work for yourself). Make sure you read the section of this syllabus that discusses what is expected of your written assignments (ex: “no hand written work, all work must be typed”). Evaluations will be made of demonstrated knowledge evidenced by the student’s completion of written assignments. NOTE: Journal assignments must be hand written.

 

 

TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE    =    100

 

Letter Grade Equivalent

 

90 - 100 = A

80 - 89 = B

70 - 79 = C

60 - 69 = D

Under 60 = F

 

 

All of the reading for this class is contained within the required text and the supplemental handouts. It is imperative that each week’s assignment is read “prior” to the start of the class for which it is assigned.  Your reactions, responses and questions to each week’s reading will jumpstart our conversation and the teaching for each class.  As a result, consistent participation in class discussions will feature prominently in each student’s evaluation.

 

 

 

 

REQUIRED TEXT:

 

Boyle, G. (2011). Tattoos on the heart: The power of boundless compassion. New York, NY:

Free Press.

 

Johnson, V. (1990). I’ll quit tomorrow: A practical guide to alcoholism treatment. New York, NY: HarperOne.

 

Kinney, J. (2011). Loosening the grip: A handbook of alcohol information. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignments must be typed in proper form:

12 point (Times New Roman) font. Double spaced.

Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation are expected of college level work.

Your Name---The Date---AS-1---and the name of the assignment

should appear in the top right or left hand corner of the first page. (number your pages)

(please make copies of your work, the originals may not be returned)

 

Students are required to attend one meeting of two different online 12-step programs of their choosing. If a student is involved in a particular 12-step program independent of their study, it is suggested that alternative 12-step programs are used for the purpose of this assignment. Students are required to keep a handwritten journal of their experiences and impressions of these meetings as they relate to class discussions and readings. Journal entries must be at least 2 pages in length per meeting. Therefore, the journal should total 4 pages by the due date. Longer entries will be accepted. This assignment will be due at the beginning of class on session 15.

 

 

SPRING SEMESTER, 2022

AS 1 SCHEDULE

 

February 8th

Module #1

General introduction of the class and course material along with introductory remarks on the Addiction Studies Program. Student introductions, stories and interests.

“Telling a story is the last thing you learn in life. Beggars are the only professional storytellers we have.” - Thom Andersen

 

February 15^th

Module #2

The Realm of Addiction: Corpse Walking and Hungry Ghosts

Journal beginning session 2: Students will engage in a daily thirty-minute constitutional either upon awakening or prior to sleeping. Please refrain from any use of the Internet for one hour before or after the constitutional. Students will keep a daily journal throughout the semester about this assignment, the nicotine and social media experiment, and original thoughts or reflections about the varieties of addiction treatment or relevant topics. The completed journal will be due on session 15.

 

February 22nd    

Module #3

Due session 3: Submit a one to two-page "Letter of Commitment to Recovery, Change, Growth & Development," in which you describe a personal issue that you are going to work on this semester. Smokers and social media users will address their smoking and Internet use. Do not feel threatened, this is but part of professional counselor training, examining the nature of addiction, and learning that nicotine and the Internet is the primary drug.

 

March 1st 

Module #4

Due session 4: Submit a two-page reflection paper of Chapter 8 from Loosening the Grip: “Effects of Alcohol Problems on the Family.” (Pages 208 – 230)

 

March 8^th

Module #5

 

March 15^th   

Module #6

Due session 6: Submit a two-page reflection paper of Chapter 9 from Loosening the Grip: “Evaluation and Treatment Overview.” (Pages 232 – 286)

 

March 22nd

Module #7

 

March 29^th

Module #8

Due session 8: Submit a three-page reflection paper for Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle.

 

April 5^th

      ^{Spring Break}

 

April 12th

Module #9      

Due session 9: Submit a two-page reflection paper of Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 from I’ll Quit Tomorrow.

Chapter 5 – The Dynamics of Intervention, pages 48 - 61

Chapter 7 – Treatment of the Acute Phase, pages 66 – 81

 

April 19^th   

Module #10   

 

April 26^th

Module #11

Due session 11: Submit a two-page reflection paper of Chapter 10 from Loosening the Grip: “Treatment Techniques and Approaches.” (Pages 288 – 357)

 

May 3rd

Module #12

 

May 10^th

Module #13

Due session 13: Submit a two-page reflection paper of Appendix B and Appendix G from I’ll Quit Tomorrow.

Appendix B - Group Therapy Handbook, pages 132 - 137

Appendix G – Outpatient’s Handbook – Encounter Group, pages 157 – 163

 

May 17^th

Module #14

 

May 24^th

Module #15

Due session 15: Submit a completed journal of reflections on the constitutional assignment, the nicotine experiment, and any original thoughts on the varieties of addiction treatment. Submit a 12-Step Journal, 4 pages in length, hand written about one AA meeting and one Al-Anon meeting attended during the course of the semester. If a student is involved in a particular 12-step program independent of their study, it is suggested that alternative 12-step programs are used for the purpose of this assignment. Provide yourself with a unique learning experience.

 

May 31st

Module #16