Honors Project for PSY-B 396

Description: For my Honors contract in PSY B396: Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, I will explore the different experiences of individuals who have immediate family members with substance abuse problems. For this project, I will create a video-style podcast where I interview those who have volunteered to share their stories and experiences. I want to bring awareness to this experience that many people share. I also want to delve into how our different identities, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, SES, etc., influence our experiences with substance abuse. There are many studies that show that marginalized groups are at high risk for abusing substances. There are also many resources for people who are battling with their substance abuse or even lost a loved one due to it, but not many for those who had to grow up watching their caregiver struggle with their addictions. As someone who comes from a long line of alcoholics, I was extremely excited to take this course. It is common for many people who have some experience or background in alcoholism or substance abuse to want to continue studying it. I want this Honors project to be a safe space for those who also had to experience similar childhood experiences as me. I hope this project will help bring awareness to this issue and also decrease any shame or stigma that we might still carry with us from our childhood. As a queer woman of color, I also want to bring awareness to how our different identities can shape or influence our experiences with substances, and how Western medicine should be more inclusive when treating marginalized groups.

Timeline:
August 22 - Discuss Honors project's and guidelines and expectations
September 8 - Honors Contracts Due
September 11 - Start interviews
September 25 - Start editing material
October 3 - Project Check in with Professor (comments, feedback, suggestions, etc.)
October 10 - Start making final edits November 27 - Finalize edits
December 3 - Honors project due

Skills:
- Research: I will be interviewing multiple people and compiling information from primary sources.
- Communication: The entire project is based on communicating our thoughts and experiences on a shared experience. I also want to discuss how we can make communication more inclusive and welcoming in regards to treating marginalized groups with substance abuse issues.
- Innovator: This experience will allow me to develop my skills as an innovator by being more creative from previous honors projects. Most honors projects are a research paper, but I wanted to make something more interactive and relatable.
- Community Contributor: This experience will allow me to develop my skills as a community contributor by bringing awareness to how substance abuse affects more than those who abuse substances. Many children of guardians who are or were substance abusers often have unprocessed trauma or negative self image due to it, but I want to promote unity rather than isolation and shame.