HLS 113 - Drugs, Addiction, Corruption and Crime

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
Explore the major phases in the illegal drug trade, including the growing, processing, transporting, distributing, consuming and financing of the product. Study the efforts to combat the influence of illegal drugs at each step in the process. Focus on the roles of the drug dealers, the government, the media, and society in general and the causes and consequences of illegal drugs.

Prerequisite(s): HLS 111 or permission of director of homeland security institute.

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Convey critical and relative information
- Accurately define the drug problem throughout the world.
- Verbally communicate facts and ideas with clarity and accuracy.
- Write reports, summaries and documents with clarity, accuracy and conciseness.
- Compare and contrast critical facts and ideas pertaining to the history and present conditions of illegal drug use and trafficking.
Demonstrate the ability to properly interpret and apply essential information
- Accurately interpret national and international statistics on drug addiction, drug trafficking, crimes related to drug addiction, arrests and convictions, etc.
- Describe new research on the effects of drugs.
- Identify state, national and international laws regarding illegal drugs.
- Correctly apply national and international laws to specific case studies involving drug production, transportation and distribution.
- Compare and contrast principles of jurisdiction.
Determine the efficacy of law enforcement operations, national intelligence, media and other sources to battle the drug problem.
- Describe and analyze efforts by the United States government to combat the full scope of the drug problem.
- Assess the role and impact of mass media on the drug war.
- Project the future status of drug use and trafficking in the United States such as decriminalization, harm reduction efforts, and new enforcement laws.