Chapter Reviews
Current University of Windsor students and recent graduates reviewed and provided feedback on the chapters in this eCampus Pressbook. The following are the brief overall feedback summaries provided for each chapter.
Chapter 1 Review
“Chapter 1 is a comprehensive and well-organized introduction into psychoactive substances that provides students with a sound foundation for the rest of the book” (Alyssa Woodbridge).
Chapter 2 Review
“Overall, this chapter provides an in-depth description of certain social factors that may impact one’s health/wellbeing, possibly leading to substance use disorders (SUDs). While this chapter goes over important prevention methods, it also elaborates on groups which may be disproportionately targeted by these social harms. All in all, the importance of this chapter lies in its relevance to Canadian society and its recommendations to expand Canadian policy through ‘upstream’ methods” (Olivia Mirisola).
Chapter 3 Review
“This chapter provides an insightful and engaging look at the history of Canadian drug policies, and the societal changes that contributed to their formation. Throughout the chapter, students are able to hear from both voices that were directly affected by the formation of these policies, and experts on the history of Canadian drug policy. By the end of the chapter, students are given the opportunity to critically reflect on the impact-fulness of the material” (Chantelle Dagley).
Chapter 4 Review
Chapter 4: Contemporary Canadian Drug Policies & Their Impact educates readers on the Canadian Drug Policy and the impact that drug prohibition and the war on drugs had on society. The chapter takes readers on a journey through the process it took to get to the Canadian Drug Policy we have today. Through engaging videos and easy-to-read articles, the readers are able to understand the negative effects resulting from drug prohibition, and allows them to better understand the effects of drug policies that are not usually talked or thought about in today’s society.
Chapter 5 Review
“Chapter 5 is an informative chapter that allows students to broaden their perspective and knowledge of drugs and drug policy” (Alyssa Woodbridge).
Chapter 6 Review
“All in all, this chapter lays the groundwork for prohibitionist drug policy and the effects it has on society in regard to substance use and substance use disorders. It discusses the current war on drugs and elaborately details how harshly penalizing drugs and drug usage only fuels this crisis, triggering negative outcomes” (Olivia Mirisola).
Chapter 7 Review
“Critically engages students in discussions surrounding both decriminalization and legalization of substances. By comparing alternate models of decriminalization, students are able to address social and economic impacts of decriminalization” (Holly Deckert).
Chapter 8 Review
“An engaging chapter that enables students to reflect on the times when they themselves contributed to stigma and learn how to adapt a more inclusive and judgment-free mindset” (Alyssa Woodbridge).
“An empirically-based chapter that is acts as a great guide to help students discern fact from fiction and form knowledgeable opinions” (Alyssa Woodbridge).
Chapter 9 Review
“This chapter provides students with factual information that gives them the tools they need to distinguish fact from fiction regarding people who develop SUDs” (Alyssa Woodbridge).
Chapter 10 Review
“An engaging chapter that allows students to understand and critically reflect on the benefits of harm reduction strategies” (Chantelle Dagley).
