Alcohol Use and Abuse
This course offers an in-depth examination of alcohol use and abuse in contemporary American society. Topics covered will include alcoholism vs. problem drinking vs. social drinking; current state, regional, and national drinking patterns; clinical differentiation of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency; dual diagnosis; disease or disorder debate; epidemiology; chronic and acute effects on the central nervous system; medical consequences; fetal alcohol syndrome; adverse social consequences; patterns of usage and effects on women and African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Native American populations; pattern of usage and outcomes for college students; models for prevention, intervention, and treatment. (Open to seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs. lect.