Young adults under the influence in Europe (Greece: Athens, Heraclion; Scandinavia – Copenhagen and Stockholm)
Note: This course starts in Athens, Greece, on June 24 and ends in Copenhagen, Denmark on July 20. Please book your arrival and departure flights accordingly.
Addictive disorders involve complex interactions among neurobiological, psychological, environmental, and sociocultural features and can reflect problems across a range of substances or behaviors. From drug abuse to gambling, to the more controversial sex addiction and food addiction, problems with addiction share important commonalities in neurocircuitry. In this course, we will start with an overview of addiction and then zoom in on alcohol use and cultural differences between the North and South of Europe. Though alcohol is considered socially acceptable in Europe, the pattern of binge drinking (BD) or heavy episodic drinking is increasing and expanding worldwide. Young individuals who practice binge drinking are exposed to numerous adverse psychological and health-related outcomes. We will study alcohol’s effects on the brain and body, personality traits related to BD, and pathways that can potentially lead to the development or exacerbation of mental health conditions.
Course Details
Enrollment
This course requires a minimum enrollment of 15, with a maximum enrollment of 24.
Credit
60 contact hours
Essential Information
The course starts in Athens and ends in Copenhagen. Students should book their transatlantic flights accordingly. Transportation from Athens to Copenhagen in the middle of the course is included in the course fee. The course includes two study tours, one to Heraklion, Crete, and one to Stockholm, Sweden. Transportation for these study tours is also included in the course fees.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This course involves extensive travel, including travel by air. Be wary of overpacking. Pack only what you can carry comfortably. It will also be useful to bring with you travel-size cosmetics.
The airline tickets from Athens to Copenhagen are included in the course fee; however, luggage allowance is limited to the following: For trans-European flights the limit is ONE checked-in piece, up to 23 kgs, plus ONE carry-on up to 8 kgs. Students are advised to adhere to these luggage limits for their transatlantic flights as well, in order to avoid overweight surcharges on the flight from Athens to Copenhagen.
For the flight from Athens to Heraklion the limit is ONE checked piece up to 20 kgs, plus 1 carry-on up to 8 kgs. While in Greece students may leave luggage behind in their apartment and fly to Heraklion with only what they need for the trip.
Housing
While in Athens, students are housed within walking distance of the CYA Academic Center in CYA student apartments located in the Pangrati neighborhood of central Athens. CYA apartments are simply furnished and equipped with a full kitchen and air-conditioned bedrooms; towels, linens and housekeeping service will be provided. Hotel accommodations during study travel will be in simple 2- or 3-star hotels, double- or triple-occupancy, with air-conditioned rooms.
Facilities
The CYA Academic Center is located next to the Athens Marble Stadium and houses classrooms, the library, the student lounge and cafeteria, computer facilities (including wireless access for those students who choose to bring laptop computers), laundry facilities, and administrative offices. The Academic Center is accessible Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Meals
When class is in Athens a full mid-day meal will be served weekdays in the CYA cafeteria between the hours of 12:00-3:00 p.m. During study travel, breakfast will be offered at the Hotels. A welcome and a farewell dinner are also included in the course fee.
Day-to-day Program & Itinerary
June 24: Arrival in Athens and check-in at CYA. Orientation session at 6:00 p.m.
July 3-5: Study trip to Heraklion, Crete.
July 8: Departure from Athens. Arrival in Copenhagen and check-in at DIS.
July 14-17: Study trip to Stockholm, Sweden
July 19: Last day of class
July 20: Last day of Housing
The day-to-day program and itinerary of the course are subject to change. Students are advised not to make plans for their free time or weekends in advance, as class schedules and site visits may be re-scheduled depending on local conditions.
