Critical Thinking (ELO Critical Thinking) - Abstinence vs. Harm Reduction Assignment

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify and clearly state the evidence for both approaches.
  • Formulate an objective opinion on the issue of Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and Harm Reduction
  • Draw conclusions related to multiple perspectives on AA and Harm Reduction

Instructions

This assignment engages the debate about two approaches to treatment in substance abuse (namely alcoholism, but this may be applied to other substances as well). The debate has to do with the tradition of "abstinence" that is supported in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step Program, and the notion of controlled drinking...or the idea that some alcoholics can be taught to drink at "normal" levels.

Below are the links to two sources...one related to Alcoholics Anonymous and the other related to Harm Reduction (controlled drinking). Read both and write a brief paper following the outline in the rubric below.

A Members-Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous

Controlled Drinking, Harm Reduction, and their roles in the Response to Alcohol-related Problems

Rubric for the AA and Controlled Drinking Paper

Title Page
 Includes name, course name, semester, date, professor's name, the name of the assignment.
10
Explain
 Explain the points of each document, focusing on the definitions of abstinence and controlled drinking.
10
Evidence

Outline the evidence that is provided in each document that support the perspective.
20
Reflect

Reflect and outline your own perspective related to substance abuse and recovery. Outline the source(s) of this perspective.
20
Conclude
 Outline a balanced perspective that takes into consideration both approaches that you could use to identify your own perspectives as influenced by the perspective of these two articles.
20
Mechanics
 Spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.
20