Estrella Mountain Community College's Phi Theta Kappa and Administration of Justice students presented an Honors Forum, The Darker Side of Learning, before a audience of 145 student and community participants at the campus on November 14.
The students presented their own research on the risks of psychostimulant (Adderall/Ritalin) abuse for competitive advantage in academic performance. Also featured were speakers from DrugFreeAz.org, Southwest Behavioral Health Services, and the Avondale Police Dept., who presented the drug impact on brain development in young adults, risk of dependence and addiction with non-medical use of these drugs, and felony legal consequences for non-medical possession of Class 2 controlled substances.
The program satisfied Honors in Action Project requirements for continued designation of 5-Star status for EMCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapter - Beta Alpha Xi and represents 6-months of chapter activity and student research related to the current Honors Study Topic – The Culture of Competition.