Online Courses announced

online-marijuana-course

“…To further enhance your knowledge, personal development and ability to assist in marijuana prevention efforts.”

Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D. is an Educator, Writer, Strategist, Online Publisher (including http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com ), and Instructor of three online courses offered by  Auburn University Outreach. The courses include the following:

  • “The Effects and Impacts of Marijuana Use ~ Policies and Approaches Addressing the Challenges”
  • “A National Public Health Disaster: Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Opioid Crisis~ The Role that Marijuana Use and Legalization are Playing” and
  • “Transforming and Leading Organizations and Organized Efforts”   

Further information concerning these online courses is included here and can also be found at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com .

In a message that he disseminated widely throughout the world on February 5, 2020,  Herschel Baker, the Director Drug Free Australia (Queensland Branch) and the International Liaison Director for Drug Free Australia (www.drugfree.org.au and [email protected]) wrote the following:

“Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D. web site has very important research papers, references and (courses regarding marijuana and the) Opioid Crisis…. to further enhance your knowledge, personal development and ability to assist in marijuana prevention efforts…” 

The courses that Hershel Baker refers to are described here:

  •  “The Effects and Impacts of Marijuana Use ~ Policies and Approaches Addressing the Challenges”: A Three-Week Online Course Offered by Auburn University Outreach (Six Offerings in 2020).

Offerings in 2020:

  • March 9 – 29, 2020;   
  • May 4 – 24, 2020;  
  • July 6 – 26, 2020;
  • August 3 -23, 2020; 
  • September 7 – 27, 2020; and
  • October 5- 25, 2020  

What are the effects and impacts of today’s high THC content marijuana? The latest findings are provided in this course. The course is designed to help expand the knowledge and understanding of those who are working to address the challenges of recreational drug use and addiction.  The course is also designed to help inform policy makers and others in roles of public responsibility of the harmful effects that marijuana use is having. The course is designed as well to help increase the knowledge and understanding of parents, educators, researchers, and all others concerned regarding the harmful effects of marijuana and the substantial negative impacts its use has on individuals, families, communities, and society in general. The effects of marijuana on mental health, the connection with violence, and the effects on the human reproductive systems and on progeny are highlighted. 1 in 6 youth who use and 1 in 10 adult users are becoming addicted. The course should be helpful to policy makers and educators as well as users or would be users. Policy and program options that are working are highlighted. The role that use is playing in the opioid epidemic is highlighted.   

Registration Fee: $300

A discount of 10% is available to groups of five or more. Register at https://lnkd.in/d8jF-h6 and https://lnkd.in/eDq6Nwt or call (334) 844-5100. Also see https://lnkd.in/-RbvKW.

The course is being taught on a pass/not pass basis. It is not taught in “real time” which means that those taking the course can complete assignments each week when it is convenient for them to do so. It is not necessary to be online at specific times each week.

The course is offered by the Office of Professional and Continuing Education of Auburn University Outreach. The course has been designed to help arm those who are concerned about the harmful effects of marijuana and about the negative individual and societal impacts of the legalization of marijuana is having on individuals, families, communities, and on society. The course has also been designed to help expand the knowledge and understanding of those who are working to address the problem of recreational drug use and addiction in America so that they can be as successful as possible in their efforts. The course is also designed to help those in the position of public responsibility understand what policy and program options have been working and what options might be tried to achieve the hoped-for outcome of turning around current trends involving the use marijuana in America.

Here are some additional particulars about the course: Participants in the course will study material drawn from a wide range of freely accessible resources including among others, the instructor’s website, http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com . The instructor’s “Letter to Members of the United States Congress and All Other Public Officials: Conclusive Evidence of Marijuana’s Harm to the Brain, Body, and the Environment”, which includes copious scientific references will also be fully discussed in the course. (That Letter is posted at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com).  Here is an excerpt from that Letter:

Marijuana with its active principle, (−)Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a low to high level hallucinogenic drug with numerous harmful mental and physical effects, including  idiosyncratic effects on mental health and mental functioning…Unlike the minimal or moderate use of alcohol and tobacco, the use of even a small amount of marijuana affects a person’s mental functioning in a variety of predictable and unpredictable ways. For example, it has triggered psychoses and schizophrenia in normal individuals…Contrary to popular belief, owing to the unpredictable effects it has been demonstrated to have, no amount of regulation could possibly ensure the “responsible” or “safe” use of this low to high level hallucinogen.

Topics to be addressed include the following: The need to defend the brain while nurturing mental and physical well-being; The need to foster a mental and public health approach to addressing the challenges of drug use and addiction; and The need to develop and implement comprehensive coordinated strategies aimed at stopping the use of marijuana and other psychoactive and addictive substances in the US. The course emphasizes the need for comprehensive and coordinated public health-oriented strategies involving all sectors of society, including government, the justice system, and educational institutions.

  • “A National Public Health Disaster: Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Opioid Crisis~ The Role that Marijuana Use and Legalization are Playing”:  A New Four-Week Online Course (Two Offerings in 2020)  

A New Four-Week Online Course on “A National Public Health Disaster: Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Opioid Crisis~ The Role that Marijuana Use and Legalization are Playing” is also being offered. 

Offerings in 2020:

  • July 20 – August 16, 2020 and
  • November 2 – 29, 2020

The role that exposure to and the use of marijuana are playing in the opioid epidemic will be highlighted along with the role that cartels and the black market are playing. See the   instructor’s “Letter to Members of the United States Congress and All Other Public Officials: Conclusive Evidence of Marijuana’s Harm to the Brain, Body, and the Environment” which includes copious scientific references. This Letter will also be fully discussed in the course. (That Letter is posted at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com). 

The course also reflects the following perspectives:

Statement on The End of Drug Abuse

The tidal wave of drug abuse and its aftermath will eventually end.   The end to the scourge will come when more and more thoughtful, feeling human beings come forward, contribute to a critical mass of public wisdom and opinion, and effectively turn the tide.  Many individuals have allowed themselves to be blinded to current realities. Many have allowed themselves to be conned and dehumanized.  Some have succumbed to sheer greed, not caring or oblivious to the human and societal costs.  When they become aware of what is going on, they will no longer give in to groupthink, social pressure, and denial.  There is then a hope that human values will overtake the magical thinking and ignorance of proponents and users and that the materialistic values of those who are promoting the societally destructive efforts of “Big Marijuana” will give way to reason and human values.  The challenge is to help coalesce the efforts of two forces:  those who at their core realize what devastation this enchantment with altered states of mind has wrought and those who are not enticed by the promise of material gain who are neither uncaring nor in denial concerning the cost of the destruction of all human and societal values, potentials, and goals. Not only is the mental health of millions of human beings at stake, the very gene pool is in jeopardy.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D.       June 2, 2019

http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com

Why do nations schedule drugs?…… Nations schedule psychoactive drugs because we revere this three pound organ (of our brain) differently than any other part of our body.  It is the repository of our humanity.  It is the place that enables us to write poetry and to do theater, to conjure up calculus and send rockets to Pluto three billion miles away, and to create I Phones and 3 D computer printing.  And that is the magnificence of the human brain.  Drugs can influence (the brain) adversely.  So this is not a war on drugs.  This is a defense of our brains, the ultimate source of our humanity.

                                                                                 Dr. Bertha Madras   April 14, 2016                     Brookings Debate on the Scheduling of Marijuana

The tendencies of public officials to narrowly define the problem and not see the role that marijuana and poly-drug use are having in the drug addiction and opioid crisis are highlighted in the course.  A broader way of defining the challenges associated with drug taking behavior and addiction will be featured, along with exemplary approaches to addressing the nation’s drug crisis.

Registration Fee: $400.

A discount of 10% is available to groups of five or more. For more information and to register, go to http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/emergencymgmt/#courses  and https://opce.catalog.auburn.edu/courses/c190128  or call (334) 844-5100.  

  • “Transforming and Leading Organizations and Organized Efforts”: A New Three-Week Online Course Offered by Auburn University Outreach (Seven Offerings in 2020)  

A New Three-Week Online Course has also been added in 2020: on “Transforming and Leading Organizations and Organized Efforts”.

Offerings in 2020:

  • March 9 – 29, 2020
  • April 6 – 26, 2020
  • May 4 – 24, 2020
  • June 15 – July 5, 2020; 
  • August 3 – 23, 2020;
  • October 5 – 25, 2020; and 
  • October 26 – November 15, 2020 

This course is designed to help leaders, managers, and drug abuse prevention activists hone their abilities and problem-solving skills in ways that help them have greater success in accomplishing their goals.  Approaches to fostering healthy change; utilizing educational change strategies; communicating effectively; understanding the perspectives of those with differing values, information, and objectives; and resolving conflicts will all be addressed in the course.  A focus of the course is on how these approaches can be applied most effectively to addressing the drug crisis. For a copy of the article that has given the course its name, see “Transforming and Leading Organizations,” published in Government Transformation, Winter 2004-05 issue posted at http://users.rcn.com/pgordon/homeland/transforming_orgs.pdf  or see link at http://gordonhomeland.com.

Registration Fee: $300.  

For more information and to register, go to http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/tlo/  and http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/tlo/#schedulereg or call (334) 844-5100.

Information about the Course Instructor:

The Instructor for the courses is Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D.  Dr. Gordon has been involved in the drug abuse prevention and drug policy fields for many decades. She had a non-profit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that focused on addressing the drug problem particularly as it was affecting youth and young adults in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. At that time, she wrote a Guide to Ideas on Drug Abuse Policies and Programs. The Guide is still being distributed by the U.S. Education Resources Information Center. (A copy is accessible at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com).

Dr. Gordon was a major contributor to a White Paper on the Drug Problem prepared for the Domestic Affairs Council Staff of the White House. That was at a time in the early ‘70s when there was no Federal coordinating effort overseeing drug abuse prevention programs and policies. She later served as a full-time consultant in the Office of the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, when NIMH was given initial responsibilities for overseeing drug prevention efforts, the recommendation that she had initially made to the White House Domestic Affairs Council staff. She served as the full-time staff person to the Federal Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinating Committee. She also played a role in initiating and shaping the legislation that gave rise to the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (SAODAP) in the Executive Office of the President. SAODAP took the place of the Federal Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinating Committee. Later, SAODAP was replaced by the Office for National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Her past experience in government has also included drug abuse prevention-related contracting and consulting roles with the Department of Justice. Owing to her efforts, a set of three Regional Conferences on “Alternatives to Drugs” was held under the auspices of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

Her work can be found at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com.  Included among the articles, presentations, and reports are lists of scientific research references on the harmful effects of on marijuana. Some of her work that is posted online includes the following:

  • A Case for Protecting the Brain: Keeping the Federal Controlled Substances Act in Place and Providing Non-Punitive, Justice System-Based Public Health Options to Address the Use of Marijuana, Opiates, and Other Psychoactive and Mood-Altering Drugs in America. (October 14, 2016), a presentation given at the 2016 International Criminology Conference, in Washington, D.C.
  • The Illegality of Legalizing Marijuana Use: An Open Plea to the President and All Other Sworn Federal, State, and Local Public Officials Concerning Marijuana Policies and Laws in the United States: What Part of “I swear to take Care that Laws be faithfully executed” or “I swear to support and defend the Constitution” Do You Not Understand? (August 4, 2014). An article published by Family Security Matters.
  • The Harm Caused to Individuals and Society by the Use of Marijuana (December 29, 2009). An article also published by Family Security Matters.
  • “Ways in Which Marijuana Use and Legalization are Fueling the Opioid Crisis” (May 30, 2019). A presentation prepared for officials of the Drug Enforcement Administration.) (Posted at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com .)
  • “Drugs, Homelessness and a Growing Public Health Disaster”, December 11, 2019, DomesticPreparedness.com at https://www.domesticpreparedness.com/healthcare/drugs-homelessness-a-growing-public-health-disaster/ and DomPrep Journal, December 2019.
  • “Letter to Members of the United States Congress and All Other Public Officials: Conclusive Evidence of Marijuana’s Harm to the Brain, Body, and the Environment”, December 16, 2019. (Posted at http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com .)

Also highlighted in the courses taught by Dr. Gordon will be a review submitted by S. Reece, M.D. to the FDA re cannabis arteriopathy, genotoxicity, and teratogenicity (Posted on http://GordonDrugAbusePrevention.com )

These courses are designed to help more fully inform and support those working to stop the spiraling use of marijuana and other psychoactive substances in our society.   The courses are also designed to help inform policy makers and others in roles of public responsibility of the harmful effects that marijuana use is having. The courses are also designed to help increase the knowledge and understanding of parents, educators, researchers, and all others concerned regarding the harmful effects of marijuana and the substantial negative impacts its use has on individuals, families, communities, and society in general. Those who participate in the courses will be in a better position to help ensure that policy makers, legislators, and others are as fully informed as possible concerning the effects and impacts of drug-taking behavior. All who take the courses will be better prepared to develop and implement sound policies and programs. They will be able to enhance drug abuse prevention, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts and they will also be enabled to help ensure that current drug-taking trends are reversed. China was able to conquer opium.

The United States can surely be successful addressing the widespread use of marijuana, opiates, and other mind-altering and mood-altering substances that are threatening the rising generation as well as all others in society today. Indeed, current trends are threatening the very stability and future of our free society and our extraordinary experiment in maintaining a government that protects and preserves the freedom that Americans hold dear.

Mary Parker Follett has said that the definition of the purpose of democracy was “to unleash creative energies”. The subtext of her words was “to unleash creative energies for the benefit of humankind”.  To borrow Dr. Bertha Madras’ words, it is essential that we “defend the brain” and protect the body and the moral fiber of the people of our great nation. If we fail to do so, we will have forsaken the promise that the nation’s Founders and all who have since protected our freedoms have helped secure and have given up so much to bequeath these freedoms to us.

Some Testimonials from Course Participants  

Dr. Paula Gordon, an instructor for Auburn University’s Outreach, is offering an inexpensive on-line course on marijuana that I think is beneficial to everyone engaged in the battle to save our kids and nation from this insidious drug. Given the problems we have with marijuana in California, I highly recommend this course for anyone seeking to improve their knowledge.  

~ Roger Morgan Take Back America Campaign (916) 434 5629 ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Wow! This is a terrific opportunity! Educators, social workers, those in the Criminal Justice system, policymakers, legislators, and community volunteers all need to take this course!! …I want to introduce you to Dr. Paula Gordon who developed this course on the harms of marijuana. We need to spread the word to all our colleagues about the value and importance of having this information, especially today in light of all the pro pot misinformation… Great Opportunity! A three-week online course on Harms of Marijuana begins soon. Sign up today! Please help spread the word, especially to those in the prevention and treatment fields!  

~ Stephanie Haynes,  Greater New Orleans Drug Demand Reduction Coalition SOS – Save Our Society from Drugs – Florida, Texas, Louisiana ______________________________________________________________________________ 

Thank you for providing such great instruction! The resources you provided and the ideas you “spurred” in my mind that will help me with my work in the future were invaluable… Thanks for a very interesting class! I have gained new insight that I believe will help me going forward….. As my first ever online class, you made it easy and fun!  

~ Dr. Joe Godfrey, Executive Director Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) & American Character Builders ______________________________________________________________________________ 

The resources you’ve shared with all of us are a real boost to my program. Thank you so much! Thanks for the additional tips and references on understanding the perspectives of many people that are pro-legalization. I think many times people just aren’t informed or perhaps they heard some information on television and assumed it was correct… 

~ Susan J. Short, Executive Director Covington County Children’s Policy Council Coalition Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Child Development Center Andalusia, Alabama

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Dr. Paula Gordon’s courses were critical to my fully comprehending not only the harmful properties of marijuana but also the societal elements and public policy that allowed this destructive addiction-for-profit industry to spawn and flourish.  Her Effects of Marijuana course is a must for anyone involved in the marijuana prevention effort due to the wealth of information and resources presented.  Dr. Paula Gordon’s effective personal instruction enables a layperson, such as a concerned parent, teacher or anyone questioning the health and safety of marijuana, a solid foundation in understanding the complexity of marijuana in our culture.   The information and benefits I received in this course inspired me to take Dr. Paula Gordon’s Drug Addiction and Opioid Crisis Course, further enhancing my knowledge, personal development and ability to assist in marijuana prevention efforts.  

~ Anne Hassel PT, previous marijuana user and marijuana industry worker, Massachusetts   (For further background on Anne Hassel, see http://momsstrong.org/videos/whistleblower-videos/; https://poppot.org/2019/06/11/rip-the-pot-van-winkle-wakes-up/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_dU4ePKgw8&app=desktop; and http://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/commercialization-thc.)