Psychology 3990G 001 FW25

 Special Topics in Psychology: Addiction Recovery

Western University

London                   Canada

 

Department of Psychology

Fall/Winter 2025

 

Psychology 3990G    Section 001

 

Special Topics: Addiction Recovery

 

 

1     Calendar Description

 

Selected topics of current interest in Psychology.  Topic available in Department.  This year the course will involve material related to recovery from addiction.  There will be information on the prevalence of addiction, why people do not seek help, but the focus will be on approaches and techniques that are used when people do enter treatment.

 

Antirequisites: Not Applicable

 

Prerequisite(s): Both Psychology 2801F/G (or one of Health Sciences 2801A/B, Psychology 2840F/G, Psychology 2855F/G) and Psychology 2811A/B (or one of Biology 2244A/B, Economics 2122A/B, Economics 2222A/B, Geography 2210A/B, Health Sciences 3801A/B, MOS 2242A/B, Psychology 2830A/B, Psychology 2850A/B, Sociology 2205A/B, Statistical Sciences 2035, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, Statistical Sciences 2143A/B, Statistical Sciences 2244A/B, Statistical Sciences 2858A/B, the former Social Work 2207A/B), or the former Psychology 2820E, or both the former Psychology 2800E and the former Psychology 2810.

 

 

3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.

 

 

 

2     Course Information

 

Instructor:  Dr. Riley Hinson   

Office and Phone Number:  see Brightspace for location, 519-661-2111 ext 84649   

Office Hours:  By appointment

Email:  hinson@uwo.ca 

 

Time and Location of Classes: see Timetable on Student Centre

 

For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.

 

3     Course Materials

 

Counseling Clients with Substance Use Disorders and/or Problematic Behaviors, Second Edition, Cognella Publishing by Kevin G. Alderson.  Either print or electronic version.  Approximate cost between $85-100. 

 

 

4     Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

The purpose of the course is to provide students exposure to both the scholarly literature and research related to many aspects of addiction.   

 

By the end of the course the successful student should be able to:

  • Memorize, describe and apply main concepts and principles related to drug use and addiction
  • Locate and critically evaluate scholarly material related to real world challenges faced by those with drug use problems and those providing help to such individuals
  • Communicate scientific information in oral and written forms.
  • Critique information presented in scientific and popular media related to drug use and drug addiction

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning Outcome

 

Learning Activities

How

Assessed 

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Depth & Breadth of Knowledge

Memorize (M), describe (D) and apply (A) main concepts and principles  related to drug use and addiction

 

Reading

Class discussion

Guest lectures

  

 

Oral Presentations of current news

Contribution to Class Discussion (DA)

Essay Questions on Tests

Abilities

2. Knowledge and Application of Methodologies

Reading of literature

Oral/written reports

3. Communication Skills

Communicate scientific information in oral and written forms.

Classroom activity

Contribution to class activity and Paper

 

 

5     Evaluation

 

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives

 

  • Term Test 28 Points: Test will be in class on March 2.  The term test may involve any or all of multiple choice, short answer, and longer essay answer questions.  The term test is designated as requiring formal supporting documentation.  Students cannot use an undocumented absence for this designated assessment.    
  • Final Exam 28 Points:  Scheduled by the Registrar.  Will cover material from March 9 to end of class.  The Final Exam may involve any or all of multiple choice, short answer, and longer essay answer questions.
  • Assignments 36 Points: There will be 6 assignments.  Each assignment is worth 6 points.  Assignments will involve writing a 2 page (1 inch margins, 12 cpi) summary and discussion of either a video, web posting, journal article, or question taken from the text book.  These will be posted to Brightspace.  Posting will be based on material related to what is discussed in class.   
  • Attendance/Participation. 8 POINTS  Attendance will be taken at every class.  The % of attended classes (must arrive on time and must not leave early) will be used to determine the number of marks earned in a very straightforward manner (% of class attended for full class time x 8).

 

Policy on Missing Coursework

 

  • If you are excused by Academic Counselling from writing the Term Test or Final Exam you will be given a make up.
  • If you missed an assignment and are either excused by Academic Counselling or use an Undocumented Absence, the points will be evenly distributed to the other evaluation components. If you missed one assignment worth 6 points, then 2 points will be added the value of the Term Test, 2 points will be added to the value of the Final Exam, and 2 points will be added to the value of the Assignments.   

 

There is no make up of attendance/participation marks.  If you are excused by Academic Counselling from some classes, then the % of attended class will be based on all other classes. Undocumented absences cannot be used for missed classes in terms of the attendance marks.

 

Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.

 

This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%   1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%   2100-2999-level courses

75%   3000-level courses

80%   4000-level courses

 

In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding

 

Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.

 

6     Assessment/Evaluation Schedule

 

Final Exam

28%

Term Test

28%

Assignments

36%

Attendance and Participation

8%

 

 

 

7     Class Schedule

The actual topics for each class is subject to change, but changes will be posted via announcements on Brightspace.  Each topic may also be supplemented with material not in the text book.  PP slides will be posted to Brightspace for any such material.

 

Jan       5        Introduction to Class/Brief Presentation of Addictive Substances

                        and Behaviours

Jan     12       The picture of addiction and treatment—Chapter 1 in text

                        Assignment 1 due by 23:00 hours, Friday, January 16

Jan     19       Some theories of addiction—Chapters 3 and 4 in text

Jan      26       Some theories of addiction—Chapters 3 and 4

                        Assignment 2 due by 23:00 hours, Friday, January 30

Jan     26        Conceptualization of Addiction—Chapter 5 in text

Feb       2       Alcohol Use Disorder—Chapter 9 in text

                        Assignment 3 due by 23:00 hours, Friday, February 6

Feb       9       Cannabis Use Disorder—Chapter 10 in text

Feb     16      Reading Week

Feb     23      Opioid Use Disorder—Chapter 11 in text

                        Assignment 4 due by 23:00 hours, Friday, February 27

Mar      2       Term Test

Mar      9       Other Substance Use Disorders—Chapter 12 in text

Mar     16     Gambling Disorder—Chapter 13 in text

                        Assignment 5 due by 23:00 hours, Friday, March20

Mar     23     Treatment—Individual Counselling, relapse prevention and harm

                        reduction—Chapter 6 and 7 in text

Mar    30      Treatment—Individual Counselling, relapse prevention and harm

                        reduction—Chapter 6 and 7 in text

                        Assignment 6 due by 23:00 hours, Saturday, April 4—note

                        change due to April 3 being holiday

Apr       6      Prevention, evaluation and assessment—Chapter 8 in text

 

8     Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices

 

You may use electronic devices in class.  You may use electronic devices for tests. You may have access to electronic notes during tests.  

 

Plagiarism Detection Software

 

All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.  All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.

 

AI Policy for Psychology:

Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology.  This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.

 

AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.   AI cannot be used to write any evaluative component of the course except as described just above (brainstorming, improving grammar, preliminary/background research on a topic).  AI cannot write your papers.

 

The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course.  Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited.  You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.

 

If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work.  All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information.  Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.

 

Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies.

 

 

9     Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147

 

10  Absence & Academic Consideration

 

Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html

 

 

 

11  Other Information

 

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement

 

Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.