The Discussion Board (DB) is part of the core of online learning. Classroom discussion in an online environment requires the active participation of students and the instructor to create robust interaction and dialogue. Every student is expected to create an original response to the open-ended DB question as well as engage in dialogue by responding to posts created by others throughout the week. At the end of each unit, DB participation will be assessed based on both level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion.

At a minimum, each student will be expected to post an original and thoughtful response to the DB question and contribute to the weekly dialogue by responding to at least two other posts from students. The first contribution must be posted before midnight (Central Time) on Friday of each week. Two additional responses are required after Friday of each week. Students are highly encouraged to engage on the Discussion Board early and often, as that is the primary way the university tracks class attendance and participation.

The purpose of the Discussion Board is to allow students to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content and the DB question. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB will be accepted after the end of each unit.

You are setting up a new drug program for inmates at the local jail. Age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic status, and mental health disability of each inmate is taken into consideration when treating drug use and drug addiction. While designing the new program, you begin to ask yourself how your own life experiences can be used to help the inmates.

Assignment Guidelines

• Consider your own experiences or the experiences of those close to you when answering the following questions.
• In 5–7 paragraphs, address the following:
  • How do you think age impacts decisions to use drugs? Explain.
    • What role do you think age plays in drug addiction? Explain.
  • Do you think women or men, if one more than the other, are more prone to drug use and drug addiction? Why?
  • In your opinion, how do you think race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation play a role in drug use? Explain.
  • What types of issues might exist with regard to economic status and drug use?
    • What about drug addiction?
• Post a new topic to the Discussion Board that contains your responses to the above questions.
• Comment on at least two other students' posts.