LaDue 1
Benjamin LaDue
Debbie Nichols
HLTH-1050
22 April 2024
Health 1050: Reflection essay
This course was a requirement for my associate of Science: Psychology degree.
After taking ten years off of college, coming back was certainly not easy. This January, I
lost my brother to an intentional fentanyl overdose, and much of this class stirred
emotions for me. After the incident, I thought about dropping out and putting this class
off until a later date. I am glad I didn’t do that.
Throughout the different modules I learned many different things about many
different drugs. I learned about potency, its effects on the body, and, not surprisingly,
different global components. Cocaine, for instance, the cocoa leave can only be grown in
a very small part of the world, which leaves a very specific problem for people of this
region who may be forced to farm the product to support their families. The vast number
of cartels and the recruitment process which is astonishing.
I also learned about fentanyl, which was almost a buzzword to me before the
beginning of this year. The devastating effects that this drug has, the small amount that
can be fatal, the production of the chemical, and how it is distributed. The most gripping
module assignment for me was the concept of harm reduction. I never considered this as
an option, but how can you help an individual before addressing the main concern and
demonizing the addict?
LaDue 2
As I mentioned in the beginning, this class had a bigger impact on my life than I
expected. While I thought I knew quite a bit about illegal drugs, I had no idea about their
global components, from Thailand to Afghanistan to Latin America. The concepts are
much more eye-opening, especially how farmers are affected when it comes to taking
care of their families. The options are limited.
I don’t think this course will directly affect my future choices; if I had taken it in
the mid-2000s when I first started attending classes, I think it would have made me
second-guess the choices I made then. Perhaps in the future, I can help others who suffer
from addiction with a more thoughtful understanding.
I am currently taking personality theory. While it may not directly relate to this
class, the views and ideas featured here transpose very easily into behaviorism. It was
easy to make connections during this class.
In conclusion, this class was full of very interesting subject matter and thoughtful
discussions; I am very happy I decided to continue with this course. The material will
stick with me for the rest of my life.
