Department of Anthropology/Department of Sociology

John Jay College, CUNY

Drug Use and Abuse: ANT/SOC 110

Spring 2016
Prof.: Ric Curtis
Email: rcurtis@jjay.cuny.edu
Office: 619 W. 54th St., 7th fl., rm. 773
Office Hours: by appointment, available M-F, 6am-6pm
Course description:
This class explores the controversies surrounding the causes and consequences of substance abuse as well
as treatment modalities and prevention strategies. The course examines the methods used by social
scientists to estimate the numbers of people who use controlled substances; whether drug use is growing
or diminishing; the impact of drug-taking on individuals and groups; and the effects of drug use on public
health and crime. Ethnographic, sociological and clinical studies, first-hand accounts by drug users, antidrug polemics, reports from criminal justice sources engaged in the War on Drugs, and media accounts
are used in this class to encourage critical thinking about this entrenched individual and social problem.
Course Learning Outcomes:
In this course, students will:
Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of social science, especially anthropology
and sociology, to explore the relationship between the individual and society, beginning with, but not
limited to the concepts of deviance and normalcy, stigmatization and subculture, and how they
contribute to an analysis of the role of drugs in society.
Gather, interpret, and assess information about drugs from a variety of sources and points of view,
including but not limited to participant observation, ethnography, surveying, and interviewing.
Articulate and assess ethical views and their underlying premises in the study of drugs for both
individuals and society.
Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically, and develop the ability to differentiate
between empirical evidence and belief with regard to drug use and abuse.
Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions.
Articulate ethical uses of data and other information resources to respond to problems and questions
regarding drug use and abuse as they relate to individuals and society.

% Grade

10%

Due Date
1. 2/10
2. 2/24
3. 3/28
4. 4/20
5. 5/2
6. 5/18
2/29

10%
10%
10%
30%

3/20
4/20
4/20
During Final

30%

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

Assignment
Description
Students will select from among the assigned
weekly readings and write papers of at least
Write 6 Review
500 words for each. Each paper will be worth
Articles
5% of your final grade and will summarize
the main points of the articles, identify the
authors evidence and offer a reaction.
Bathroom Overdose
Conduct the survey at 2+ locations & write a
Survey & Guidelines
500-word description of your experience
Drug & Crime Project
Complete observations over 30 days
Drug & Crime Project
Complete at least 10 surveys
Drug & Crime Project
Complete 3 In-Depth Interviews
Drug & Crime Project
Write a research paper of 2,500+ words using

original data collected for the class.

Course Schedule:
Date
2/1

Topic
Sources of Information about
drugs in society

2/3
2/8
2/10
2/17
2/22
2/24
2/29
3/2
3/7
3/9
3/14
3/16
3/21
3/28
3/30
4/4
4/6

Why people take drugs

What Drugs do to you
Drug control
Alcohol
New Drugs
Marijuana
Marijuana
Autobiography of drug use
Heroin
Heroin
The ethnography of drugs
The ethnography of drugs
The ethnography of drugs
The ethnography of drugs
Hard Drugs in NYC
Crack in America
Data Collection & Drug Use

4/11
4/13
4/18
4/20
5/2
5/4
5/9
5/11

Women and Drugs

Women and Drugs
Drugs and Ethics
Hallucinogens
The Ganja Man: Ch. 1-2
Chapters 3&4
The Ganja Man: Ch 5 & 6
Chapters 7 & 8

5/16
5/18

The Ganja Man: Ch. 9 &10

Chapters 11, 12 & Epilogue

Final

TBA

Readings
1. www.monitoringthefuture.org
2. https://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/default.asp
3. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nhsda.htm
Weil, Why people take drugs
Gahlinger, Quickest route to the brain
Gahlinger, A century of increasing drug control
Barr, Drink
Freud, ber coca
Schultes, Nectar of the gods
Anslinger, Marihuana: Assassin of youth
Burroughs, Junky
Preble & Casey, Taking care of business
Wendel & Curtis, The heraldry of heroin
Bearak: A Room for Heroin and HIV
Bearak: Battle Against AIDS Falls Behind
Bearak: Life, Death, Birth and Love
Bearak: Road to Detox: Do Not Enter
Curtis, Crack, cocaine and heroin
Agar, The story of crack
Goldstein: Self-Reports of HIV Risk Behavior by Injecting Drug
Users
Maher and Curtis, In Search of the Female Gangsta
McCoy: White Chicks on Dope
Leary, Trip 15: Your faith will perform miracles
Doblin, Pahnkes Good Friday Experiment
http://www.amazon.com/Ganja-Man-strange-account-Jamaicasebook/dp/B00JVS9P4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421765738&sr=81&keywords=the+ganja+man

Discuss and describe the methods and techniques that McDonough used
to collect data for the book.

Discuss and describe the big crime that McDonough felt led to all the
little crimes he describes in the book?

Definitions of Grades:
As established by the College Council, Undergraduate grades are defined as follow:
A Excellent
B Good
C Satisfactory
D Poor
F Failure
Attendance: Students are expected to attend class and show up on time. Absences and chronic lateness will have a
negative impact on your grade.

Academic Integrity: Academic Dishonesty, including plagiarism, is prohibited in The City University of New York
and is punishable by penalties including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. Please review the CUNY Policy
on Academic Integrity on the college website under Students. By registering in this course, you are promising to
abide by all the requirements stated in this policy. Students in breach of this policy are liable to severe penalty,
including disciplinary action. See below and also p. 167 of the Undergraduate Bulletin for further explanations.