Why I chose this course/What I want to learn

I chose this Addictions and Society course for a number of reasons. First, I have a huge interest in addictions because it has surrounded be throughout my life. I have had friends with addictions to pills and hard drugs that have altered their lives in various ways. It has made me more sensitive to the subject and has peaked my interest into the biology and the psychology behind what drives people to an addiction, how they get through it, and maintaining a drug-free life after they get the necessary treatment. I have seen friends recover, collapse, and fall flat on their face again. I have yet to see in my life a friend of mine that has kicked the habit. Most importantly, I watched my father fight an addiction to alcohol that cost him his battle with Liver Cancer a little over two years ago. It made me wonder how you can look into the eyes of your two children and choose a drink over their well-being. I think this has sparked my interest the most and makes me want to comprehend the biological and mental processes that people have to grapple with on their road to recovery. Overall, I took this course as a way to make sure I never fall into the same traps that so many of my close friends/relatives have.

I hope to learn by the end of the semester about the biological and psychological processes that influence and alter our behaviors and create an addictive personality. Also, I want to know if there are ways to prevent and keep oneself from becoming addicted to something. I feel that prior experience has been enough of an influence on me to keep me from caving into addiction. However, I do not feel that that is the same for others and will be interested to see how others are able to adapt or cope with addictive tendencies.

I look forward to this semester and learning a lot about others and myself. As an elective, this course was chosen not as an easy 'A' but as a learning experience; one that could benefit me far beyond the end of this semester.

Until next time...

-Derek