Course Description: This course will be focused on describing the origins of the opioid epidemic including on how and why it started, the main players involved in propagating this crisis and what has been done to combat this issue. The course’s topics will range from looking at the biological view of how addiction occurs, analyzing pharmaceutical industry’s motives and the medicalization of drugs, to debating many ethical dilemmas that doctor’s face when prescribing opioids, and what the future of pain management is in America. We will also be evaluating how the epidemic has widespread effects in certain communities and races and how pain management has been transformed due to the induction of opioids in medicine.

Course Requirements: No prior pre-requirements are required. This course is open to all students, and there is no prior knowledge required. Students should come with an open mind and be prepared to engage in debates and ethical discussions! The learning goals of this course are to gain greater knowledge and awareness about the opioid epidemic, pain management as a pervasive issue in healthcare, deeper understanding of the biological perspective of addiction/molecular understanding of how opioids work in the body, current clinical practices for pain management, medicalization of drugs. You will develop greater analytic skills in evaluating complicated healthcare issues, ability to engage in classroom debates, broadening perspective.

Grading & Course Logistics:

Required Materials: Any preferred method to take notes with (notebooks, pens, tablets, laptops, etc)

Class management policies: Attendance, late policy (10 mins later than BerkeleyTime is considered an unexcused absence), participation (detailed above), cell phones & personal computer usage is permitted during class.

Grading: Only 10/13 meetings will count

50% Attendance (50 points)
20% Participation (20 points) (engagement in class)
30% Assignments (30 points) (given outside of class/ in class assessments/presentations)

TOTAL = 100 points, passing = 70/100 points

Grading Policies:
We will look at in-class participation in classroom debates/seminars and discussions to assess how engaged the student is during the meetings. We will also have three main assignments corresponding to the weeks we have guest speakers and the Methadone Clinic Visit, as well as other group activities to test their understanding of course material and the discussed topics. The format of the assignments will be 1-2 page reflections on the relevant subject material covered, and more information will be provided closer to the dates. We will look at the effort that students put into their discussions and assignments to grade their work and will ensure their work reflects an overall understanding of the course material.

The end of the semester student presentations will be during the last two weeks, and each presentation will be for 10-15 mins. You will meet in small groups and research a given topic that will be given closer to the end of the semester. Grading will be based on group participation as well as the effort put into the presentation itself.