Online Activities

Drugs, Society and Behavior
SOCI 270 - SUNY Morrisville College
Professor Kurt Reymers

The Online Media homework assignment is a reading or video on Blackboard which includes a number of questions you need to respond to regarding the media.

On Blackboard, click the "Online Media" links each week some time after they become available (by Monday 12am), then click the "Write Submission" button to type your answers to the questions.

The online assignment is due by the end of the day FRIDAY of the week it is assigned.

Follow the directions below for the assignment, but be sure to get access to your Blackboard account as soon as possible, more assignments will appear there weekly.

Watch this video on the History of Drugs and then answer the questions.

Watch Video

Use this link to open in a new window: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYBcbtiBVeI

Click "Online Media 2" above and then click the "Write Submission" button to answer these questions:

Intro:
1. What makes it difficult to know about drug is in ancient history?

Cannabis:
2. What is the significance of the Yangshao pottery made in China in the 5th millenia B.C.?

3. How did ancient people use cannabis? Be specific in your answer.

Opium:
4. In the discovery in Italy regarding the growing of ancient poppy plants, what is the significance of the difference between the plants discovered at that site?

5. Where was the first known record about the opium poppy found?

Betel:
6. What was the significance of the skeleton with red stains on its teeth found in the Duyong Cave site in the Phillipines?

7. What health problems are related to chewing the Areca nut and Betel leaves for their stimulating effects?

Soma:
8. What is the ancient drink known as "soma" made from?

Coca
9. Where in South America was coca being used?

Mescaline
10. What type of plant might contain mescaline?

E-mail your completed assignment to: reymers@morrisville.edu, with the SUBJECT line to read: DRUGS2
DO NOT send as an attachment.

(Note: for regular correspondence, do not use the above link to email me; or if you do, be sure to remove the automatic subject line heading)

Due on or before the end of the day Friday, February 3

Write a brief autobiography of your life in relation to your experiences with drugs. Certainly, this needn't necessarily mean illicit drugs; we all have probably been to the doctor for a prescription, had a cup of coffee or a Coke(TM), or been given a drug by a parent to change performance or attitude. Focus, if you can, on "psychoactive" drugs, drugs that effect your mental state or mood. Think of this as a "get to know you" exercise (for yourself). You don't need to be too revealing*, and remember you may always use the "I have a friend who..." escape hatch if you want to talk about illicit things or have little to no experience with drugs yourself.

*All assignments will be treated confidentially by the Professor, except in the case of revelations of current or recent incidents or threats of self-harm or harm to others associated with your descriptions of a drug experience, in which case I am a mandated reporter to the Dean of Liberal Arts and possibly to the Dean of Students.