De Anza Different Substances Viewed in The Eyes of Different Groups of People Questions

Please answer ONE of the following prompts

Thought

Think about how the perception of substance use is portrayed in the media today. How are different substances viewed in the eyes of different groups of people? How and why might outside influences such as culture, class, gender, etc., affect the way some may view different types of substances? Do certain substances hold a greater stigma than others? Why do you think that is? Pick one or two specific substances to reflect on. Are substances presented differently in the media when addressing certain groups compared to others? If so, do you support this difference in presentation based on the audience? What might be some arguments for either side? 

Reader

According to the article, “In a bid to stop overdose deaths, California could allow drug use at supervised sites,” lawmakers have proposed the implementation of safe spaces to inject drugs under professional supervision. Do you believe these programs should be approved in California? Why or why not? How would these programs alleviate substance abuse challenges? How effective would these safe spaces be in promoting harm reduction? What are some potential risks that could arise in implementing such programs? What should public health officials do to prevent such risks? How would stigma against patients with substance abuse disorders be affected by the widespread adoption of these sites? 

Activity

Click on this link, https://uhs.berkeley.edu/psafeLinks to an external site., to visit the University Health Services “PartySafe@Cal” that UC Berkeley offers for its students in order to reduce alcohol-related risks and harm on campus. Under “Resources,” explore the links that are provided. Did you learn anything new while exploring the page? While navigating through these links, choose one or two links that interest you the most. Why did this link interest you? Do you think this link does a good job at describing the risks of substance abuse? What are some areas that could be improved? Do you think these links are an effective way to reach students? Why or why not? Elaborate on a few approaches that may be a more effective way to reach students.