CJUS 370 - Substance Abuse and Criminal Justice

Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 0

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100 or equivalent, and SOCI 100 or equivalent, and CJUS 100 or equivalent
Restriction(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth examination of drug use in American society. The course aims to develop a sociological, pharmacological and historical understanding of drug use. It explores a variety of theories and theoretical orientations that seek to explain both why people use drugs and how society responds to drug use in the population. Emphasis is placed on understanding the historical foundations and philosophical underpinnings of drug prohibition in America. The connection between drugs and crime is examined by focusing on the way drug use and drug policies affect criminal behavior and the criminal justice system. Likewise, it is important for the criminal justice professional to understand the laws pertaining to drug possession and drug sale at the state and federal levels. This includes criminal court, drug court and diversion programs. This course provides criminal justice professionals with a comprehensive background on drugs and their abuses, effects on crime rates, laws and legislation and treatment alternatives.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course: You are being prepared for a future career in the criminal justice field. This will require the need to possess a basic understanding of how we, as a society, currently deal with the issues associated with drug use and abuse. This course should therefore assist you to:

explain the drug abuse continuum from abstinence to dependency;
discuss the categories of abused drugs;
discuss the extent of the drug problem in the U.S.;
discuss the relationship between drugs and crime;
discuss key legislation related to drugs in the United States;
explain the movement toward treatment for drug abuse/addiction;
discuss the various neurological theories of drug abuse;
discuss the use and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs;
explain the sociological approach to the examination of drug use;
discuss psychological theories of drug abuse;
discuss the various models of drug abuse prevention and treatment programs;
discuss international and domestic drug trafficking; and
discuss drug law enforcement.