Drug Diary Assignment
What is a drug? Why do we take them? When do we take them?
Many of the substances we take every day qualify as drugs, and some of the most common of these have psychological effects. As we begin to talk about why people take drugs, you are asked to complete a drug diary. For one week, make a note of all of the drugs you take. This includes prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs. Your diary will be anonymous; I will not collect it. I will, however, ask you to think about what (if any) patterns you observe in your drug use, and I will collect your self-analysis at the end of the week.
Download a blank diary to use here. Record the exact type and amount of the drug taken (to the best of your ability) and the setting in which you took the drug. Also, make note of your mood (angry, happy, depressed, bored, etc.) at the time that you used the drug. Finally, make note of your stress level at the time using the following scale: 1--very relaxed, 2--low stress, 3--moderate stress, 4--very stressed.
Use the following sample as a guide to help you keep your diary.
Date:
Wednesday,
August 31st |
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Drug
Group |
Type |
Amount |
Setting/Mood |
Stress |
Prescription
|
birth
control pill |
1 |
dorm
room |
1 |
Over-the-counter
|
Tylenol |
2 |
in class/headache |
3 |
Caffeine
|
coffee Pepsi |
1 cup 16 oz. |
Breakfast, Chase Round Lunch at Emerson |
2 2 |
Nicotine
|
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Alcohol
|
Beer |
4 |
party |
2 |
Steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs
|
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Illicit drugs
|
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Other
|
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At the end of the week, review your drug diary, and turn in your typed responses to the following questions:
1. Did you notice any patterns in your use of drugs? If so, what patterns were evident?
2. Were you suprised about anything you noticed in your drug diary? If so, what surprised you?