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I'm an outdoorsy person :) give me any recs for hikes/climbing crags in AZ!

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Hi! I'm Arushi- (one of your TAs for PHPM 225)

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Hi! I'm Arushi- (one of your TAs for PHPM 225)

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Hi everyone-it's lovely to e-meet you all! I'm a 4th year PhD student in Epidemiology and a research student in a Substance Use Research lab focused on Women's Health at UA. I am also your TA for this course :) Fun fact: I can sniff out at least 27 different species of mangoes at grocery markets (don't ask me how I got this superpower lol). What do I hope students will gain from this course: I hope students gain a critical understanding of substance use, exploring its historical, social, and policy dimensions to assess interventions and advocate for evidence-based public health solutions. Hobbies/Interests: Outdoor adventures (climbing, hiking, mountain biking, rollerblading); Crocheting; Cooking & Baking (I love making hawaiian butter mochi cake); Reading Sci-Fi Action books (currently reading "Skyward" by Brandon Sanderson)!

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I love to travel and did a semester abroad in London.  I went to Chicago last summer to meet up with my friends from abroad.

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Hello! I am Lauren - one of the TA's for PHPM 225 

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Hello! I am Lauren - one of the TA's for PHPM 225 

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Hello everyone! It is great to meet y'all! I am a first year MPH student in Public Health Policy & Management with an interest in genomic editing policy and will be doing my APE with CODAC, a substance abuse program in Tucson. For the students in this course, I hope that you all will gain a variety of perspectives on the theories regarding substance abuse and learn how to critically evaluate potential solutions in order to address this large public health issue. My hobbies and interests include UofA sports (if anyone wants to talk March Madness, let me know), traveling, trying new food, film photography, and reading. I am currently reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt and I highly recommend it. I hope everyone has a great semester!

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A Self-Introduction: Hello! My name is Gavin I'm a Junior who is currently Majoring Psychology and minoring in Addiction and substance abuse. My goal with these degrees is to become a licensed mental health counselor with a focus of helping people who suffer with substance use disorders. I am from the Jersey shore, but it is not like the show. A Fun Fact: I go 90 miles into the ocean to catch Tuna every year. Learning Goals: My learning goals for this class I to further my knowledge about addiction and substance use and try to further understand drugs I am not experienced with when it comes to SUD's. Hobbies/Interests: I love to go fishing, salt water or freshwater and have traveled the country to do so. I also love sports, baseball being my favorite. I am a big Yankees fan and watch my Friends who play D1 baseball when I get the chance. So when I'm not doing school I'm watching sports, fishing or working. Thank you guys for your time and look forward to meeting y'all.

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Whats up yall im Tc and im from La. Im studying Business with plans to switch to criminal justice. One fun fact about myself is I love to entertain people whether it's telling hella jokes or recording vlogs, I love it. In this course, I hope to learn more on the emotional side of substance a use and why people genuinely let themselves fall into deep drug abuse. Outside of school I love hanging with friends, dressing, and watching Tiktoks lol. Im excited for this class and cant wait to read all of you guys intros!

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Howdy all! I'm a second year psychology major with a minor in pre-law thematics. I recently got out of the military after serving for 7 years and decided to continue pursuing my goal to become an attorney. I currently work as an electromechanical engineer, and I also am a personal trainer and photographer on the side with a real estate business. I do valet also at the casinos so, if you're ever there come say hi! Fun fact: I have been to all 50 states. I LOVE to travel, so I take road trips a lot especially if I'm already traveling for work or for fun and I'll go spend a day or a few days in each state that's around just to experience new places. I've driven through every state, and have also been to 20+ different countries! My next travel goal is to visit every continent(only Antarctica is next) which I will do soon on a cruise. Hobbies: travel, reading, gym(if you need a gym partner let me know!), sports, video games, anything outdoors and adventurous, and I'm a huge adrenaline junky. I'm looking forward to working with you all, and if you want to connect feel free to reach out!

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Hi! My name is ilania (E- lawn-knee-uh). I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology and minoring in Human Development and Family sciences and Addiction and Substance Abuse. I am from Phoenix Arizona and have lived here my whole life and have loved doing my undergrad here at the u of a! My goal for this course is to expand my view on addiction and learn more about its effect/impact on people. Also to see if it gives me more of an idea of what kind of field I might be interested in. I am really open to learning new things and perspectives. Plus going into the psychology field addiction is something I definitely will encounter and want to make sure I am educated on the topic as much as possible. My fun fact is that I learned Mandarin from the age of 6-14 through my elementary school's Mandarin's immersion program that carried into high school. I don't use it much now and definitely a little rusty, but it was a great experience and taught me so much! I also took up ceramics in high school and still love to be in the studio when I get the chance it just a very time consuming hobby, so I don't do it as much as I would like to. I also love to read I am currently reading "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Nig. It's a great read so far! My favorite genre is definitely mystery/thriller, I love trying to guess how it will end and it keeps things interesting! (even if my guesses are always wrong lol) I also recently got a cat and she is my current obsession at the moment. She is my favorite study buddy and loves people. Her name is Maple and is always hanging out with my friends and I.

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What's up my name is EJ im from San Fransisco California. I am a sophomore studying Law trying to be a lawyer. A fun fact about me is that I love playing basketball, listening to music and taking pictures. I hope to lean in this course how different drugs alter the minds of people and how they affect them mentally. Outside of class I like hanging out with my friends and sometimes making music ourselves just messing around I also work a part time job that keeps me busy.

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Hey I'm Campbell! I am a sophomore majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology. A fun fact about me is I have had 3 pet shrimp for the past 3 years. They are really cute and low maintenance which i love. I hope to gain a better understanding of substance use and addiction. I have always found these things interesting and would like to learn more. One of my hobbies is film photography. I enjoy playing with and experimenting with different lens and films as well as developing them when I can.

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Hi! My name is Ava. I'm a second year pre-nursing student from Las Vegas, Nevada. My goal with this degree is to eventually start working in hospitals and join a street crew to provide medical care to those who can't afford it. A fun fact about me is that I have two dogs, a mini Australian shepherd named Rocky and a pug named Cash. I hope to develop a better understanding of how drugs can affect people and why substance abuse is so common in the first place. Some things I do outside of school are working at a tea shop, hanging out with friends, going to concerts, going on hikes, working out at the gym, and traveling. My favorite places to visit are always near a body of water or a pretty view. My dream vacation would be to go to Lake Como in Italy. I've never gone to Italy but I would love to go. I also really enjoy cooking, as I've done it for nearly my whole life.

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Hi everyone! I am currently a freshman hoping to earn my Psychology degree. My ultimate goal is to help people! Throughout this course, I wish to better my understanding of the possible causes and solutions of substance abuse. A little bit about me: I am from Seattle, Washington. My current hobbies include snowmobiling and wakeboarding! I also love to travel! I attended the UA main campus for my first semester and recently switched to the online program. While in Tucson, I adopted a dog at the PIMA animal shelter. He is now living in Seattle with me and a very special dog!

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Hello everyone! My name is Angelica, I am a junior here at the University of Arizona. I am majoring in psychological sciences and am a pre-law minor. I am from Warner Robins, Georgia. I love the heat and humidity. I am very excited to learn more about substance use and addiction as a whole and learn more about drugs I don't already know and their effects. Outside this course, I love reading and hiking with my friends. One of my favorite things to do is cook and enjoy fun new dishes.

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I am a dancer; this was taken from a recent photoshoot I did. 

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Hi, my name is Kinsey Larsen. I am in my third year, and I'm a dance major planning to graduate next year with a BFA. A fun fact about me is I am CPR/First Aid/AED certified and I am in the process of getting certified in Fletcher Mat Pilates. Something I hope to take away from this course is how to better support family members and other people in my life who struggle with addiction. I have always wanted to dive deeper into this topic because it has personally affected me as I watch family members and friends who are challenged with these topics. I am very busy as a dance major between classes, rehearsals, and performances, but some of my favorite hobbies I enjoy when I do have time are hiking, meditating, reading, listening to lifestyle podcasts, and learning everything related to holistic health and optimal living. I am very eager to learn more as we move through this course and I hope everyone has a great rest of the semester.

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Hello, my name is Emily and I am a freshman hoping to get my degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with a minor in psychology. My goal is to become a Nutritional Therapist. After this course I hope to better understand theories behind substance abuse, why people gravitate towards one substance over another, and how the larger addiction epidemic can be solved. When I am not working I usually spend my free time reading classic literature, watching movies, and training my Australian cattle dog on his homemade obstacle course.

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Hello! My name is Alexia, and I am majoring in Game Design and Development with a minor in Computer Science. My major has little to nothing to do with this class, BUT these topics are important to understand and learn about. Something fun about myself is that I have two cats (Cleopatra and LoMeme) and one French bulldog (Phoebe). I also LOVEEEE coffee! My learning goal for this class is to learn more about addiction and substance abuse because, in today's society, it is more and more common to get to know people struggling with this. Some hobbies of mine are playing video games, coloring books, and visiting coffee shops! I also started playing golf very, VERY recently!

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Here is one of the most recent song covers I designed for a friend.

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Hi everyone, my name is Wyatt and I am a Junior studying Economics here at Arizona. Originally I am from Connecticut, but my family and I moved to Minnesota earlier this year. One fun fact about myself is that my favorite hobby is graphic design; I love making digital art and specifically making logos and song covers for my friends that are musicians/DJs. My learning goals for this course are to further understand why people fall into addiction and specifically learn about methods about how to successfully overcome addiction. I wanted to take this course because my mom works at a drug rehabilitation center and want to have a better understanding of the work she does and how to navigate working with people affected by addiction.

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Hi! My name is Isabella, but I usually go by Bella. I am currently a freshman and majoring in business administration. One fun fact about me is that I have a dalmatian puppy named Oreo! I have had two dalmatians growing up so they're definitely my favorite breed. Something I hope to gain from this course is a better understanding of substance abuse and why addiction has become so common. Outside of school I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Recently my boyfriend and I have been going snowboarding together, but wouldn't call it a hobby yet. I live in Phoenix, so we've been exploring northern AZ as much as we can before the snow leaves. A few weeks ago we got to go to Williams and see Bearizona, which was super cool! I would totally recommend.

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Hello! My name is Jacob, I am a Sophomore kinda. I play trumpet professionally and take classes in college to fill my free time because otherwise I would just play video games all the time. Addiction runs in my family and in taking this class I hope to get a better understanding of what my siblings are going through and what they have gone through. Other than playing trumpet and video games I hang out with my 5 cats. They do not all get along with each other and there is always chaos being caused.

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Hi my name is Lexie and I'm a sophomore studying political science and criminology. Something interesting about me is that I really don't like to travel, I love being home with my family. From this course I hope to enjoy the information I learn, I need more credits so I think this is a course that will provide me with useful information while completing my credit requirements. Outside of school I am in a sorority, play volleyball for fun and coach gymnastics. I played volleyball and did gymnastics for most of my life, I have been coach gymnastics for about three years and two of those years have been coaching competitive teams, I really enjoy my job.

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Hi everyone! my name is Logan, I'm a freshman here studying Landscape Architecture. I'm currently working at one of the libraries at the university so I'm either there, in class, or with my friends. A fun fact about myself is that I played volleyball in high school for three years. I took this course to gain knowledge on substance use and the psychological factors that go into addiction. More specifically I would like to learn about drugs such as nicotine and alchohol to really understand how one becomes addicted and breaks the habit. I hope to gain this knowledge to help myself and others with addiction. Some of my favorite hobbies are playing golf, pickle ball and fishing. Golf is actually what got me interested in Landscape Architecture as I hope to be designing golf courses in my future.

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Hi, my name is Naomi Mros. I am currently a first year human development and family science major. A fun fact about me is I have 7 siblings. My goal is to better understand addiction and how to help prevent it. My hobbies is to spend time with my family and friends. I like to spend time binge watching shows and watching movies. 

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Hi, my name is Naomi Mros. I am currently a first year human development and family science major. A fun fact about me is I have 7 siblings. My goal is to better understand addiction and how to help prevent it. My hobbies is to spend time with my family and friends. I like to spend time binge watching shows and watching movies. 

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Hello!

My name is Siena, and I am a first year student at the University of Arizona, studying Environmental Science. One fun fact about me is that I have played the flute since I was ten years old, and right now I play in two local Tucson ensembles. From this course, I hope to learn a little more about public health, especially since substance abuse has affected several people I know. I am also interested in seeing how environmental science perspectives might intersect with public health, since I am considering an additional major or minor. Some activities I enjoy are visiting local attractions like the Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul, playing my instrument, watching horror movies, and spending time with my friends. The photo attached is from the last time I visited TBG!

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Hey guys! My name is Kaitlyn and I'm a freshman studying Physiology and Medical Sciences! I'm from Phoenix, Arizona and I actually have a twin brother who studies computer science at ASU. From this course, I'm hoping to understand the entire role substances play within human life, not just the biological basis that I am familiar with. I'm interested in unmasking deeper levels of stigma that addiction holds and being able to put my own biases aside. Outside of this course, I love to read, listen to music, and hangout with my friends. I'm an avid side quest enthusiast, so my friends and I are always out doing something incredibly random. I used to play competitive club volleyball, and I spent a lot of my free time in high school volunteering as a coach as multiple different facilities. Academically, my passion is in medicine and I love learning anything that has to do with the body and exploring the unknown with it. I hope to learn a lot alongside all of you through this 7-week course!

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Hello! My name is Bryan and I am a second year in pre-nursing. A fun fact about me is that I love the outdoors, and love to go camping; I am the the one on the left in the picture. I hope to learn about the various ways that substances are used in both negative and positive ways. I also am interested in the factors that lead to addiction and the measures that people can take to overcome addictions. Outside of school, I like to play video games, I play random games that I find amusing on the Xbox Game Pass catalog; I also play Clash of Clans a lot! When I am not playing video games, I like to work out and attend volunteering opportunities.

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My Name is Jess Stokes I'm studying psychology with a minor in child development. I Moved from Brooklyn New York to Arizona a year ago. While out here I figured I finish my degree. I enjoy cooking, baking, and telling stories behind my work via social media. I also enjoy working out and running. Fun fact about me I have been a die-hard Knicks and Yankee fan since I was a kid and I also love wrestling. I hope to take away from the course drug use and society and the impact it has on people, especially with what I want to do in the future in my career so I want to be able to connect and understand.

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Hi there! My name is Tess Kristijanto, and I am currently a junior at the U of A. My major is Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography, Videography, and Imaging and along with that, a minor in Business Administration. I am from a small town in Nebraska, and I am a mother to the cutest cattle dog, Bane. I've been surrounded by people with addictions my whole life and decided to join this course to have better understanding/knowledge on the matter. One thing I absolutely love to do is try new yummy food/drink places, so if any of you have any recommendations please let me know! :D

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Hi! my name is Jessica however I prefer to go by Jess! I am currently working towards my bachelor's in psychology. A fun fact about me is that I have 13 brothers and sisters combined! In this class I hope to gain a better understanding of the different substances. My hobbies include updating my home to make it my own (lots of DIY involved) and spending time with my children as I have two teenagers which I think is the best part of childhood!

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Hey everyone! My name is Ella, and I am a sophomore majoring in Physiology and Medical Sciences with minors in Spanish and Biochemistry. I hope to go to medical school and become an OB/GYN after undergrad. A fun fact about me is that I have met one of the actresses from The Office. My learning goals for this class are to understand the physiological, social, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to addiction so I can further understand it and potentially help future patients. Outside of school, I love going to the gym, trying new Mexican restaurants, going to UA basketball games, and watching The Bachelor. I also love spending time with family, friends, and my dog. I can't wait to get to know everyone!

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Hi everyone, my name is Carolina! I am a junior studying Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. A fun fact about me is that I memorized the entire Shrek movie in English and Spanish when I was little. I hope to go on to Pharmacy school in the future. From this class, I expect to get a better understanding of how addiction works and how to recognize substance abuse in others. I think that it will be a crucial factor in my future career. Outside of school, I like to play my instruments (piano, guitar, and violin) and I love to watch horror movies.

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This is my dog Oolie on high dosage anti-psychotics (which I thought would me fitting for this class)

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Hello, my name is Amelia. I am a sophomores studying Psychological Sciences with a minor in Criminology. I want to work in forensics and want to work more in the forefront of crime investigation. Fun fact: I can solve three different rubik's cube. My goal for this class is to learn more about addiction and the substances you can get addicted to as well as how they affect people. Some of my hobbies include reading and skateboarding. I spend most of my free time watching shows. Some of my favorite shows are Criminal Minds, Dexter, and Bojack Horseman. I am very excited to be taking this course!

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Hey everybody, my name is Brandon, and I am majoring in psychology and minoring in addiction and substance abuse. I plan on using my degree to become a licensed mental health counselor with an emphasis on substance abuse. I grew up on San Juan Island, Washington, and have lived in and out of the country as an adult, finally ending up in Tucson for college. Fun Fact: I hung out with Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys in New Zealand for a night while on a backpacking trip. Learning Goals: Continue to learn more about addiction and the risk factors that can cause it. Hobbies/Interests: Skateboarding, snowboarding, painting, guitar, cooking, stand-up comedy, travel, camping, woodworking, and finding new and enjoyable activities. Thanks, everyone! Looking forward to the class!

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Hi, everyone! I'm really excited to get to collaborate with you all the rest of the semester. My name is Kazandra Navarro, a second-year at the UA, and I am a double major in Criminal Justice and Human Development and Human Behavior. A fun fact about me is that I love photography. I think being able to capture a moment in time is so valuable. It's a way to capture and express emotions, moments, relationships, opinions, etc. A picture can really tell an entire story, which I think is absolutely beautiful. In regard to what I hope to gain from this course, it's a deeper understanding of the theory behind these different substances and their effects. I want to be able to confidently be able to explain the different substances and the ways it can lead to an addiction. One of my main interests is in the sport of softball. After senior year in high school, I stopped playing competitively, but this year, I've had the opportunity to volunteer as a pitching coach at the high school I played at. It's been very different (in a good way) to be on the other end of the game, but it's also been extremely rewarding. Excited to learn more about you all and from you throughout this course!

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Hi, my name is Colby Donner and I am currently studying Optical Science and Engineering with a minor in Math. I transferred to the UofA my sophomore year from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology which is a tiny private engineering college in Indiana. I transferred to the UofA due to the amount of research that is conducted in Optics here and to further pursue a PhD in Optics. I am currently working in a group that focuses in ultrafast fiber lasers and nonlinear optics where we explore different laser and microscopy applications in many different fields. A few fun facts about myself is that I raced motorcycles for around 3-4 years before I moved out to Arizona and stopped once college courses began to eat up most of my time. I also have two cats, Pepper and Boe which are both ~2 years old now. My goal for this course is to gain knowledge regarding the way the brain works and interprets addictive substances and how your own genetics have an affect on your susceptibility to become addicted to something. Thank you for your time and hope the rest of your semester goes well!

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Hi everyone! My name is Carlos Sanchez! I am finishing up my classes in addiction and working towards my intern license to become a certified drug and alcohol counselor. Working in the field of addiction and recovery is my passion and I can thankfully say I have found my purpose. While it can be hard work at times, it is beyond rewarding. I am currently the fitness trainer at Vegas Stronger, an outpatient addiction treatment center. My wife also works there as a mental health therapist. I can confidently say that she brought me into the field and helped me find my passion. I live in Las Vegas with my beautiful wife and our 3 fur babies (2 cats named Luna and Walter and a dog named Roscoe). During my free time, I enjoy playing baseball and softball, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family. I am excited for March Madness to start! I am looking forward to this class as it will help me expand my knowledge in the field, which I can use to assist my clients in the future. I look forward to working with everyone! Cheers to a successful semester!

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Hi everyone! My name is Noelle, I am a sophomore majoring in Biotechnology with a general emphasis. I hope to do research in a lab working on new vaccines or maybe GMO. Fun Fact: I once ate goat brains at a restaurant in California with my dad. I love trying new things. I took this class because I wanted to learn more about how addiction works in the brain and the different effects of the addictive substances. Outside of class I love to read and go on hikes. My current favorite book The Game of Thrones. The books are better than the show. I have two cats at home that love to "help" with my online classes. I'm excited to take this class.

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Hi! My name is Brynn, I'm a freshman majoring in pre-nursing. I am hoping to begin nursing school in the fall and ultimately want to work as a pediatric nurse practitioner. A fun fact about me is that I have three brothers. I love to play volleyball, and I am currently playing on the club volleyball team for UofA. I am really looking forward to this course as psychiatry is very interesting to me and I have seen many instances of substance abuse in my life. I think this topic will not only apply to my career, but give me a better understanding of substance use/abuse in general.

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Hello everyone!!! My name is Noah Canisales. I am from Goodyear, Arizona. I am a Freshman majoring in Chemistry with hopes of adding another major in Molecular and Cellular Biology. I have aspirations of attending medical school in hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist. A fun fact about me is I have never been outside of the United States despite having a passport to do so. From this course, I hope to gain a better understanding of addiction and substance use and how it affects individuals. I have always been intrigued on how these substances can interact with the body, so taking this class will fulfill this wonder. Outside of school, I can most likely be found listening to music on my headphones, more specifically Playboi Carti who I am in the top 0.001% of listeners. I can be found at Scented Leaf talking up a storm while doing my homework. I also participate in multiple intramural sports, but it is mostly basketball. I am a big San Francisco 49ers fan and can talk about nearly all sports for hours on end. Thank you all for your time. I look forward to this semester!!!

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Hi there! My name is Katelyn. I'm a sophomore studying Biochemistry and Mathematics, with a goal to go into drug design. Since I want to go into the pharmaceutical business, I thought this class would be fun to take. I'm hoping to learn a lot of interesting information, especially about opioids. In my free time, I love to watch movies, hike, and grub. One fun fact is that I recently became obsessed with pecan pralines this summer.

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Hi everyone, my name is Jessica and im currently a second year at uofa studying retailing and consumer sciences. I'm originally from the Bay Area, California but live in Tucson right now on campus. I would say my fun fact is that I'm adopted which ties into why I took this class. Both my biological parents were drug addicts and I want to try to understand more about addiction. I love sports, specifically basketball, I tore my ACL and got surgery 7 months ago which is why I'm online right now, I love my friends and being able to live with them is such a blessing. I also love traveling, nature, and social settings. The picture is me with my older sisters dog in North Carolina, her name is Lily!

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Hello my name is Diego Tyrrell, I am a Criminal Justice major. I am from Tucson, Arizona and will be graduating this May! A fun fact about me is that I love to fish and play golf! What I hope to gain from this course is to dive deeper into why people misuse, abuse, and are addicted to certain substances! A few of my hobbies are going to the gym and boxing.

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Hi! My name is Marie Fox and I am a nursing major from Scottsdale Arizona. I want to become a missional or travel nurse with the goal of bringing healthcare to areas that do not have access to it. Something interesting about me is that I had brain surgery this summer so I got to experience many aspects of the hospital! I have known a few loved ones to fall into substance abuse and addiction and seen what it can do and so from this course I would like to learn why that tends to happen and how it can be earlier prevented and identified. I love to hang out with my friends, go to the gym, and experiment with new recipes I can make from my dorm!

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Hello everyone, I'm Jessi. I study psychology with the hopes of one day becoming a therapist. Substance use is my family heirloom and I think I'll really benefit from the information in this course. It's hard to say what I specifically want to learn about. Making connections between what I learn here and the outside world is what I look forward to the most.

Fun fact about me is that I paint murals, signs and teach paint classes for a living. My hobby, my passion and my job are all in one. I'm very grateful for that.

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Hi, my name is Carlin Plunkett I am from Scottsdale, Arizona. I am a junior here at the University of Arizona majoring in communications with a minor in Addiction & Substance use. Something I hope to gain from this course is to better my understanding of substance abuse and the effects that it comes with. Outside of school I love to go shopping, go to yoga, festivals and hangout with my friends!

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Hi all! My name is Jessie and I'm a freshman majoring in Medicine with a minor in Nutritional Sciences and BioChemistry. I'm hoping to go to med school after undergrad and become an orthopedic surgeon. A fun fact about me is that I was born in Christchurch, New Zealand so I'm a dual citizen. My learning goals for this class are to gain a better understanding of addiction and substance use and how it affects people because it is unfortunately so common in the world we live in today and then hopefully use some of the knowledge gained in my future work as a healthcare provider. I'm from Flagstaff, Arizona so I love anything outdoorsy like mountain biking, hiking, hammocking, paddle boarding, and so much more. I also competitively powerlift and hold 3 Arizona state records and I'm a part of the U of A powerlifting club so I spend a lot of my time at the gym training. I'm looking forward to this class and hope everyone has a great rest of the semester!

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Hi everyone! My name is Emily, I'm a freshman with an undeclared major, and I'm from Colorado Springs. A fun fact about me is that I've been to Paris and Rome! I hope to gain a better understanding of well-known substances so I can better understand the risks associated with each, and potentially help friends if I see signs of addiction. Outside of school I love to read, hangout with friends, binge tv, go to concerts, and watch baseball; specifically the LA Dodgers. I chose a photo of my dogs Charlie(closest) and Roxy.

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A Self-Introduction: Hello Class! My name is Francisco Islas. Currently I am a junior majoring in psychology and minoring in Addiction and Substance Use. My goal is to become a licensed mental health practitioner focused on aiding those who battle with substance use disorder. I would like to help the people of South Tucson, particularly youth and young adults.

Fun Fact: Cat (Athena)

Learning Goals: Substance use and addiction is something that is not openly talked about in our society yet exists. I hope to learn more about substance use and addiction in general throughout this semester. Everything from risk and protective factors to effects on quality of life and strategies and methods to help combat/overcome addiction.  I would also like to learn more about how we can make talking about this topic less taboo.

Hobbies/Interests: Outside of school, I have your average person hobbies and interests. I like to listen to music, spend time with family and friends, and find places to lay down and nap outside. Places near water are always nice. I think it’s relaxing. I also like to exercise occasionally.

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My name is Luke VandenBosch and I am studying mechanical engineering. I have 3 dogs. I would like to learn in depth details about substance abuse and why is happens since several of my family members have been a victim of it. I like to lift at the gym, 3D print and design, collect things, occasionally practice lock picking.

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Hello, everyone! My name is Izabela, I am a sophomore and my major is still undecided but I am leaning towards majoring in Public Health. I am the oldest of 8 and normally take care of my 7 younger siblings a majority of the week on top of being a full-time student. Unfortunately, I am not a very interesting person so I don't really have any fun facts or anything unique to say about myself.

What I hope to gain from this class is knowledge about substance use that I am not aware of, specifically factual based evidence.

Some things I like to do in my free time is read, work out, hang out with my family, travel to Oregon to see my best friend AT LEAST once a year, and get my nails done.

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Hi! Im Amy, and I'm from San Diego, California. Im majoring in marketing and am a sophomore. A fun fact, I used to live in Australia. I hope to learn more about substance abuse and how it can affect peoples lives. I also hope to learn about different solutions and how to help people with a substance addiction. Some of my hobbies are snowboarding, playing volleyball and going to the beach. I also love hiking and anything outdoors.

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Hi everyone! Its so great to meet you all! My name is Giana and I am a freshman. I am currently majoring in psychology and minoring in criminology. A fun fact about myself is that I am not from Tucson, I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois but moved to Arizona to attend the University of Arizona. My learning goal for this class is to be able to understand how substance abuse and addiction is a social problem and how can i connect it with my psychology and criminology work. Some of my hobbies and interests is probably shopping. I love hitting the stores and browsing because I am broke to buy anything lol :)

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Hi everyone! My name is Kaia. I’m a second-year student, and I recently switched my major to psychology. A fun fact about me is that I have two dogs, a tortoise, and a horse back home in California. I personally know people who have struggled with addiction, so I’m looking to gain more insights into that through this course. I try to empathize with those facing addiction as much as I can, and I believe learning about substance abuse will help me better understand their experiences—at least at a surface level. Some of my hobbies include hiking, running, and working with kids. Working with children is something I’m really passionate about, so I spend my summers working at a summer camp, which allows me to combine those interests.

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Why hello, My name is Joe Figueroa and I am one of the chefs at the University. I am a business student. I have been a chef since 2007 but I am trying to get my business degree. I know all about addiction and recovery. I am in recovery and sponsor others in AA. I know all to well what addiction does to people and their in families. I am all about giving my perspective on recovery and hope to give an insight from my personal experiences on recovery. Hobbies: Former Semi pro soccer player who gardens on the side haha. I love movies, hiking, new food, traveling , gym, anything active and trying to live a healthy life. I look forward to the class and seeing peoples perspective on the topic. I love learning and hopefully can take some notes from people and help others along the way.

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Hello! My name is Sam and I'm majoring in Psychology right now with the hopes of completing a masters degree to become a behavioral therapist. A fun fact about myself that I would like to share is that I can pick up new hobbies/skills pretty quickly! My learning goals I hope to gain from this course include more scientifically based knowledge about addiction and what the brain experiences in that state. Some of my hobbies include sewing, crochet, painting, junk journaling, and anything in the arts! Happy to meet you all.

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Hi! My name is Hunter. I'm a freshman majoring in Law with goals to become a sports attorney! I'm born and raised here in Tucson, Arizona. My goal for this course is to expand my knowledge on substance abuse. I love all sports, my favorite sport to watch is football and my favorite sport to play is basketball. I love music and outdoor activities.

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Hey everyone, I’m Caleb and I am currently going for a bachelor's degree in applied computing. I hope to achieve a job I enjoy that can help fund my education further past a bachelor’s towards the end of my degree. I have a lot of experience with family and friends struggling with substance abuse so I would really like to better understand the psychological thoughts and other causes behind it, even though it is not very relevant to my degree. I love trying to understand other people and I feel this class will benefit me greatly in understanding “issues” other people struggle with. A few hobbies of mine are gaming, fixing things, or just driving around to explore wherever I am currently living. I am looking forward to the rest of this class and hope everyone else is too!

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Hi everyone, my name is Ethan and I'm a Psychology major with a minor in Addiction and Substance Use. Once I graduate next year my plan is to continue my education by perusing a Masters of Social Work and from there work towards my goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Eventually I'd like to own a private practice that specializes in treating OCD and SUD. I'm taking this course to gain deeper insight into addiction and how it presents in our society.

Fun fact I've traveled to 6 continents. My photo is me recuperating in Pokhara, Nepal after a trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp.

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I'm probably the oldest student in this class seeking my certification in Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling. Graduate of UNLV and Kennesaw State, GA M.Eds. in Educational Leadership and Middle Grades Education Math/Science Instruction. CSUN - BS Business Finance. Retired from Government Service after 10 years of service at the Bureau of Reclamation and the Defense Contract Management Agency. Retired LTC, Army Reserve - 30 years. Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) at Best Version of Yourself Psychology, LLC (www.bvoypsychology.com).

Co-Owner, with my wife, Dr. Shanel D. Harris of Best Version of Yourself Psychology LLC a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Best Version of Yourself Psychology LLC (BVOY), is a family (Dr. Shanel D. Harris (PsyD, Ed.D, BCBA, LBA) and veteran-owned private practice located in Henderson, Nevada, servicing the Las Vegas valley. We are a comprehensive psychology service serving families, children, and individuals. Our mission is to assist you in becoming the best version of yourself. I love sports and go to Spring Training baseball games every year and a huge LA Dodgers fan.

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Hello everyone! My name is Aparna Chandrasekar, and I am an undergraduate sophomore studying Physiology and Medical Sciences and minoring in Addiction and Substance Use. A fun fact about me is that my brother and I share the same birthday; however, we are not twins! My goal from this course is to complete my minor and gain more knowledge behind substance use disorders and addiction in our world. Some of my other hobbies include Indian Classical Vocal and violin. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts throughout the course this semester!

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Hi everyone! I'm chenling and I'm a sophomore majoring in information science (interactive & immersive technology) with a minor in addiction & drug use. An interesting fact is I used to study chemistry but I finally noticed that I want to learn something more interesting and creative. So I just changed my major and started learning something brand new. In this lesson, I hope to learn more about drug use and why people fall into addiction.

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Hi everyone! I'm David, and I'm currently working toward my bachelor's degree in psychology. Community engagement means a lot to me; I currently work in hospice care while attending school, and I'm always looking for new ways to contribute further within my community.

My primary passion outside of academics is music. Although music might appear as just a hobby to others, it's actually central to my life. Most of my activities, including school and community service, are things that I believe enrich and inspire my art. But that's a much deeper conversation for another time.

This class, and specifically the minor requiring it, is particularly meaningful to me because I have an ongoing personal project I've been developing for several years. I believe gaining a formal, academic understanding of substance abuse through courses like this will greatly enhance my project. While I've witnessed many first-hand experiences and deeply felt the emotional side of this issue, I'm also genuinely interested in broadening my perspective by learning about substance abuse through a more structured and academic lens.

Thank you all for reading. I’m really looking forward to learning with everyone this semester!

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What's up, y'all, my name is Conlan; I am majoring in physiology and medical sciences and planning to pursue my career in physical therapy. I've wanted to branch out into PT since elementary school, and it has stuck with me ever since. I'm from Chicago, but I have been loving the new atmosphere out in Arizona. A fun fact about myself is that I love practically all genres of music, my favorite artist currently has to be J. Cole. I hope to understand how certain drugs affect certain people and how to assess if someone is on or suffering from the side effects of certain drugs. I also want to be able to offer assistance to those who may need advice especially those who are college students. I love to go to the gym and skate. Other than that I enjoy spending time with my friends and just going out and having fun. I used to play football so I always enjoy throwing around the ball with my roommate now and then.

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Hi! My name is Paris Rentz and I am a freshman and business management with a concentration in marketing. One unique thing about me is that I lost most of my sense of smell a few years ago and can barely smell anything now. One thing that I hope to gain from this course is how addiction and drugs effect the body longterm when it comes to physical aging as well as the deterioration of the brain. Some of my hobbies include going to the beach, tanning, and hiking. I also love hanging out with my friends and I see them pretty much everyday of the week.

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Hey guys! My name is Andrea, and I am currently pursuing a degree in Nursing. Alongside my studies, I am a nanny and a daycare teacher! In this course, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of why drugs help people cope with their personal issues and what leads people to become deeply entangled in substance use. I’m excited to learn more about the psychological and physiological aspects behind this complex issue. Outside of class, I work a lot and spend time with friends and family. I’m looking forward to this class and gaining a deeper understanding.

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Hello everyone! My name is Alberto Calvillo, I am a junior currently trying to get my Criminal Justice degree, with a minor in substance abuse counseling. Fun fact about me is, I am an identical twin, and we have both taken the same career fields as law enforcement officers, as well as both joining the Marine Corps.

From this course, I would like to know more about substance abuse as I currently see a lot of people who are into drugs in my job as a Police Officer. A big common topic now is people who do drugs for a long time, can have some mental health repercussions in the end. With this in mind, a lot of people with mental health, tend to be people who are usually repeat offenders of some crime, hence to why i would like to know more about this field, as unfortunately I am sure this drug, alcohol problem will continue to be seen in my career field.

One of my hobbies is to stay in shape and stay BUSY. Interestingly enough, I have struggled with drinking alcohol in the past when I was active duty in the military. Now, I would like to see what the effects were on my body, and I can possibly relate to it. Please to meet all of you!

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Hello! I'm Alenah, I am currently a sophomore majoring in Marketing. My goal with this degree is to become a public relations manager! Something that is interesting is I have a 15 year old bunny (he is still thriving lol). From this course, I hope to gain a better understanding of substance abuse and how it affects those who undergo this life. Some of my hobbies include hiking, photography, and beach volleyball!

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My name is Adan Dorame, I am from ambos Nogales, AZ and Sonora. I’m majoring in psychology with a minor in substance use with the goal of further understanding and feel compassionate about the struggles people go through their everyday lives. From this course, I look up to finding a new perspective on the topic of substance use and identify different ways to help someone overcome this obstacle. I really enjoy watching fights whether that’s boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, jujitsu, or MMA (I’m always watching UFC). I have a deep passion for the sport and would like to have fights under my belt in the near future.

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Self-Introduction: My name is Hannah Martinez and I’m a sophomore here at the University. I am majoring in Cyber Operations and do all my classes online due to the fact that I live in Texas.

Learning Goals: I had interest in taking this class to learn more about substances and the abuse of them due the fact that there are so many risks and effects that many people do not know, myself included. I hope to just be more knowledgeable about to subject to help others when needed.

Hobbies/Interests: Most of my time is spent working or hanging out with my friends and family. In some of my free time I play in an adult kickball league and it is a blast.

Fun Fact: I have the cutest cat and his name is Smokey. We adopted him about 6 years ago and he is my one and only child.

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Hello! My name is Jevon Smith. I am a sophomore majoring in Nutrition and Human Performance. My goal with this major is to become a physical therapist and help people! A fun fact about me is I can name every U.S president off the top of my head. From this course I hope to gain knowledge about how addiction starts and the root causes of addiction. I hope to further my understanding about drugs and what it can do to the human body. A interest I have is anything about basketball. I love watching, playing, and talking about basketball. I think it is such a interesting and fun sport.

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Hi! My name is Reva Joshi, and I am a Junior pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science, as well as Psychological Sciences. I enjoy all things Brain and Behavior and staying active. One of the most exciting parts of my college experience has been serving as the captain of my campus dance team, and we’re thrilled to be competing in a National League this April!

Beyond academics and dance, I have also dedicated years to fostering kittens and finding them loving homes—an experience that has been incredibly meaningful to me.

I was drawn to this class because it perfectly complements my 'Drugs and The Brain' course this semester. I have always been fascinated by the bidirectional impact of drugs on society—both in terms of their neuroanatomical effects and their broader social implications, providing me a holistic background on the topic.

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Hi everyone! My name is Jes and I am a sophomore, currently studying business, but am going to change to communication and minor in either sports management or entrepreneurship. One fun fact about me is I am a huge dog lover and I work at doggy day care filled with all types of breeds. I have two dogs, a blue nose pitbull named Von, and a staffy named Rizzo. As someone who has lived with an alcoholic, I hope to gain further knowledge about addiction and substance abuse and hope someday that I can be able to help kids who have struggled with this throughout their childhood. My hobbies include going to the gym, building legos, and traveling. Texas is my most favorite place to travel to and I am planning on moving there after college.

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Hi, my name is Eliette Ramsey and I'm currently a freshman majoring in pre-law. After college, I hope to go to law school and eventually become a lawyer. I am from Liberty Lake, Washington, but I love traveling to all sorts of different places. I spend most of my time hanging out with friends, working out, and watching the best TV show of all time, Breaking Bad. I decided to take this course because addiction is a very real thing that a lot of people struggle with and I want to learn more to be able to understand what people struggling with addiction are going through. I'm super excited to be taking this course and I'm looking forward to learning more!

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Hello everyone, it’s so nice to virtually meet all of you! I’m in my 4th year of my undergraduate, which makes me a senior right now:,) I was born a raised here in Arizona. I’m studying psychology with a minor of ethics of communication, with an emphasis on philosophy. On my free time I bake sweet treats like brownies, cake pops, cheese danishes, and even wellness shots—for my at home bakery @tutulis_bakery. I am taking this course out of a graduation requirement, though I have been leaning towards more substance abuse courses throughout my last semester here at the University of Arizona. Which I think it ties into nicely with my main psychology and neurology courses, I took earlier in my junior year of college. I have a little fur baby named Luna which I love bringing along with my boyfriend Tony on spontaneous adventures.

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Hi everyone! My name is Kiersten Morris and I am a Sophomore.I am currently majoring in Nutrition and Dietetics and I have minors in Spanish, Sports Nutrition and Physiology. My ultimate goal is to go into either Physical Therapy or become a Registered Dietitian, though based on my new major I am obviously leaning more towards Dietitian though. I would love to work within athletics and sports. A fun fact about me is that I went to Italy this summer to study abroad and learn about the Mediterranean diet. I hope to learn more about addiction and substance use as a whole because I am bound to encounter patients who suffer from it and to be able to understand them and potentially their thought process will only help me in knowing how to care for them. Some hobbies and interest that I have are reading, hiking, swimming and line dancing.

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Hi, my name is Ladd Smith, and I am a freshman who is majoring in Criminal Justice. One fun fact about me is that I had an internship with the Phoenix Police Cadets in high school and was able to meet many political figures, such as the chief of police and the mayor. My learning goal for this course is to broaden my understanding of drugs and addiction. I do not know very much about drugs, apart from basic knowledge, which is why I believe that this course can give me more knowledge on the topic. I think that knowing more about addiction and substance abuse will also help me in my future career. Outside of this course, I am interested in sports, especially basketball, football, and baseball, and enjoy playing all sports. I also enjoy helping my dad fix up houses in my spare time.

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Hi everyone! My name is Kylie and I'm in my junior year studying neuroscience and cognitive science with minors in biochemistry and addiction & substance use. I'm from St. Louis, Missouri and came to U of A because I loved visiting family in Arizona for many years. From this course, I hope to gain more knowledge about the public health impacts of substance use, the policies and theories surrounding addiction and substance use, and possible solutions. Outside of class, I am in a sorority, have a sports medicine clinical internship, and work as a supplemental instruction leader for general chemistry 2. I enjoy hiking, going on walks, and just being outside in the sun!

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Self-Introduction: Hi, my name is Kiara. I am a freshman studying Psychology, but I plan to transfer to nursing. Fun Fact: I fell off my bike when I was younger and broke my nose. Learning goal: I want to learn more about how addiction affects the brain and about all the different approaches when it comes to treatment. Hobbies/Interests: some of my hobbies are painting, and I am currently learning how to do lash extensions.

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Hello! My name is Seana (pronounced Shawna) I am majoring in Psychology with a minor in Substance use and Addiction. I am a Tucson native and have actually worked in the Pharmacy field for over 20 years as a Pharmacy Technician. I am currently working in the Behavioral health field as a case manager. I hope to learn everything I can about Substance use and misuse and addiction to assist the population I work with. I collect funko pops and any thing Harley Quinn. I have 4 dogs currently 2 English Bull Terriers and 2 American Staffordshire Terriers. I walk for graduation in Maty 2025 and I plan on continuing to complete a Masters degree in Social work.

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Hello everyone, my name is Justin Hinson and I'm a Psychology major. I'm a senior and have lived in Tucson since 1998 but grew up on the east coast. My goal from the course is to keep learning about how substance use and addiction is currently understood and how it is evolving in society at large. I love to travel, especially to the beach, and my favorite spot is the pier in San Clemente CA. I also enjoy hiking and going to concerts. I look forward to hearing everyone's perspectives throughout the class!

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Hello!! I’m Alex Amador. I’m a sophomore at the University of Arizona majoring in Physiology with an emphasis on extreme and exercise physiology. While I am not sure what I will do after I graduate, I do hope that I can use what I learn to help my community. From this course, I would like to gain a better understanding on how substance abuse develops, learn ways to prevent abuse and how to aid those around me who struggle with addiction. I chose my major because of my interest in how the human body works and moves, especially in dance to create stunning movements. I have been dancing since I was 5 and have recently started self-training again to improve my skills. Through a local K-pop cover group I have joined with my friends, I am starting to build my dance reputation and I hope to use the projects I have been working on with them to build up my confidence to perform live again. Due to this, my days consist of me only studying, dancing, and lounging with friends, but I do enjoy how I spend my time.

Here’s a video of a recent cover we have filmed: https://youtu.be/9f9Pm-sfGgA?si=H8v15mVnBsO_KhW

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[K-POP IN PUBLIC] ENHYPEN (엔하이픈) - XO(Only If you say yes) | Dance Cover by Cosmo S

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My name is Alessandra Marcus, and I am an RCSC major at the University of Arizona. One fun fact about me is that I love to travel—I’ve been to multiple countries and enjoy exploring new cultures and experiences. In this course, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of addiction abuse, including its psychological background and underlying factors. Outside of academics, I love dancing, traveling, and spending time with friends. Whether it’s discovering a new destination, expressing myself through dance, or simply enjoying good company, I always seek out experiences that bring joy and excitement to my life!

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Hi everyone!

My name is Rebekah, I am majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in cognitive Thinking. Outside of school, I do a bit of everything but I love to travel, I am a big fan of living a healthy lifestyle, and finding new ways to stay active!

Fun fact: I’ve had the opportunity to compete in the Miss Texas competition! With that experience, I engineered an initiative that advocates, educates, and promotes safer driving in Texas.

I am excited to be able to correlate my studies in this course to this, especially when thinking about how substance use has affected so many lives on the road!

I am also hoping to deepen my understanding of the impacts of substance use, not just on individuals but on families and communities, learning more about the science of addiction and how that translates into prevention, treatment, and policy solutions.

I am looking forward to getting to learn alongside everyone!

Best of luck this semester!:)

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Hello my name is Tariq Denetso and i'm majoring in Cyber Operations. One fact about me is that I love to play volleyball and love watching/playing sports in general. i hope to gain a better understanding in substance use and how it affects people. Some hobbies of mine are traveling, volleyball, reading, and going to the gym. Those are just a few of my favorite ones and i'm excited for this course!

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Hello! My name is Ariana. I’m a junior studying aerospace engineering. My goals for this course is to get a better understanding on addictions. I have addictions in my family and I am familiar with how big of a struggle it can be but I would like to learn more about the psychology behind why addiction behaves the way it does. I’m born and raised in Tucson and love to hike and read! Any recommendations is welcome for a good read or hiking trail. I also love to travel and try to take at least two trips a year. My favorite place I’ve visited so far is Nashville because I love country music and the food there is delicious! I look forward to interacting with you guys!

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some photos from traveling- im on the left in the first photo

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Hi my name is Twila Schane. I am a sophomore majoring in psychology and business entrepreneurship. I love working on cars. I drive a manual audi a3. I love traveling around the world and I hope to gain more knowledge in understanding the psychological factors involved in addiction. I love traveling. I’ve been to 13 countries and am backpacking Switzerland next. I really enjoy traveling to islands. I have a scuba diving license and am working towards being a dive master. I also love swimming with sharks and I hope to travel to Australia one day. Some of my other hobbies include playing golf, going to concerts and festivals, spending time with friends, hiking or going to the gym, and day-trading. I loved hiking the 7 falls trail here in Tucson.

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Hi everyone! My name is Shaye and I am a senior here at the U of A. My major is Care, Health and Society and I have a minor in Public Health. A fun fact about me is I am a certified yoga teacher! I am really excited for this course and learning more about addiction. I plan to get my masters in nursing after I graduate and believe this course will help me a lot! Some of my hobbies include crocheting, reading, spending time with my family and friends, traveling and working out.