Bradley Pinkston

Health 1050
07/22/14
Application Paper
This 2014 Suer seester has !een di""icult and !usy !ecause o" the "our classes # had si$ned
up "or% &ut o" all the classes # 'ould ha(e to say that Health 1050 )i"e* society and dru$s has !een
y "a(orite% # re$istered "or the class !e"ore the seester 'ith (ery little kno'led$e o" dru$s in society
or dru$s in $eneral "or that atter% # 'as hopin$ that this class 'ould open y ind to the use o" dru$s
and their e""ects they ha(e on people and/or society% +ith that !ein$ said this course has done ,ust that
and has put in perspecti(e ille$al dru$s* le$al dru$s* alcohol* addictions and e(eryday su!stances on y
li"e and others%
# ha(e learned a lot o" in"oration "or takin$ this class and the acti(ities it pro(ided% This
class has o""ered e kno'led$e on so any topics "ro history o" dru$s and their current rele(ance in
odern society% # al'ays "ound it interestin$ e(ery tie 'hen # read a chapter on the sheer history each
dru$ or su!stance had* that certain dru$s ha(e !een around since lon$ a$o% -(en pro!les 'e ha(e
'ith su!stance a!use today has !een around "or any o" years in di""erent cultures% Also that soe
su!stances 'ere thou$ht to !e used "or edicine* !ut later do'n the road !een disco(ered to !e
har"ul% #n"oration like this has ade e ore a'are o" su!stances or edicines used today* that
ay!e one day i$ht !e seen as har"ul or e(en !ecoe illicit%
This course has also tau$ht e a!out addictions and ha!its "ored !y illicit dru$s and licit
dru$s* that soeties there can !e little di""erence !et'een the% -(en su!stances that 'e as noral
people consued daily* like ca""eine or pain edication can ha(e addicti(e properties% .ear the end o"
this class the in"oration on ca""eine has really ade e rethink y ha!its it% The aount o" ca""eine #
in$est e(eryday could !e dan$erous and that y !ody has !ecoe dependent on it% This can !e true "or
any su!stance that anyone can take "ro &T/ dru$s to illicit dru$s% &nce our !ody !ecoes e0posed to
hi$h aounts o" soethin$ or throu$hout a lon$ period o" use* an addiction can set in% The concept o"
!ein$ dependent on a su!stances to ake one "eel $ood or ,ust to "eel noral scares e% # a $rate"ul
that this course has really opened y eyes to su!stance a!use and addiction%
# really en,oyed that discussions and social acti(ities that # had to do in this course% The online
discussion 'ith other students ade e appreciate others opinions and thou$hts on current e(ents or
in"oration% -(en the sall topics like ca""eine or siple kno'in$ a!out the 211 helpline 'as a $reat
learnin$ e0perience% All the coents and post ade !y students 'ere precise and contained lots o"
di""erent (ie's% # "eel that ha(in$ students in a discussion "orat can tackle a topic "ro lots o" an$les
and helps in"oration spread% The student cooperation in this class 'as aa1in$* soeties !etter than
that 'hat the !ook could teach% # !elie(e that a hands on 'ay o" learnin$ al'ays !eats ,ust plain readin$
alone* the online discussions in this class pro(ed that to e%
The in"oration # learned in this class # !elie(e can help e throu$hout y 'hole li"e% # !elie(e
that kno'in$ the e""ects o" certain dru$s and su!stances is in"oration that e(eryone should kno'% #
ha(e al'ays !een $ood a!out stayin$ a'ay "ro har"ul dru$s or su!stances* e(en ore so a"ter this
course% 2no'in$ 'hat e""ects har"ul su!stances can ha(e on onesel" should !e in"oration e(eryone
should kno'% .ot ,ust "or illicit dru$s* !ut also "or edications that are e(en prescri!ed% People should
kno' 'hat they are puttin$ and doin$ to their !odies% 3ru$s that are ade "or $ood and !ad can ha(e
a,or e""ects on the !ody and ind% #t up to use to decide i" that e""ect is "or !etter or 'orse%