Please answer a 2 part question: .

1" Identify a common theme that is apparent to you across all of the learning materials for that week and provide example evidence for this theme by mentioning at least one thing you learned from each of the materials that were assigned. For example, if I assign two videos and a journal article, you might point out that both videos and the journal article appeared to assume that addiction is mostly biologically based. You might then point out that one of the articles relied on data from only one small study while the two videos did not provide many citations for their claims. Another example of a common theme may be that all three of the learning materials are authored by psychologists with no other profession represented in the material. Yet another example of a common theme may be that all the materials for a given week seemed to ignore the role of culture. You will not get credit for listing a theme that is purely a reflection of the week's title theme. For example, during the Biological Perspectives of Addiction week, you may not list the theme you found to be something like "all of this week's materials focused on biological effects".

2) Answer the unique question for that week (see each assignment instructions).

• This week's unique question/prompt:
  • "Do you think some drugs should be decriminalized or legalized? Please be specific about which one while making it clear you know the difference between the two. "

Note *****All the info below is the relevant info you need. Not nessecary to read all just scroll through articles and find a theme summerized in a few short sentences.

Portugal has what is closer to the "decriminalization" of some drugs. But note that there are nuances to the law. There is not necessarily full decriminalization of all drugs in all situations. Learn about potential positives to decriminalization that are taking place in Portugal by watching How Portugal Ended Its War on Drugs.

The Netherlands has what is closer to the "legalization" of some drugs. But note that there are nuances to the law. There is not necessarily full legalization of all drugs in all situations. Learn about potential downsides to legalization that are taking place in the Netherlands by watching: Narco State: Drug gangs becoming powerful in the Netherlands.

Listen: Learn about the policy controversy over the legalization of drugs by listening to a debate that took place in 2012 between various expertsLinks to an external site.. When listening, think about how things have changed in the over ten years since this debate was had. What is different? What is the same?

Start to learn about public health policy decisions by learning about the weird history of D.A.R.E and how (un)successful it was by watching "D.A.R.E. Was a Bigger Failure Than Most People Realized"

• Learn about the important (and often misunderstood) differences between "legalization" and "decriminalization" by reading:Decriminalization vs. Legalization of Drugs: What it Means for States in 2020-2021Links to an external site.
• Learn aboutstate drug laws in one US state by seeing a curated example from your instructor of such laws in Oregon by reviewing this powerpoint slide deck.
• Arguments are often made for restricting ALL drug use because of public health concerns related to the "Gateway hypothesis". Learn about the gateway hypothesis by reading:The Truth About Gateway Drugs and AddictionLinks to an external site.
• One issue with drugs being illegal is that their contents can not be regulated by the government. Consequently, street drugs tend to be "messy." Read this tweet and the replies about the contents of a bag of "dope"hereLinks to an external site.
• Similar to above, there is concern that levels of THC vs CBD in marijuana have been increasing thus leading to more addiction and other negative side effects. Learn about the difference between THC and CBDhereLinks to an external site.

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