Pharmacology of Drugs and Abuse

Catalog description

The course will introduce the psychopharmacology of drug abuse and addiction, and has a strong neuroscience orientation. An introduction to pharmacologic thought and basic principles will be provided. The acute and long-term effects of selected drugs of abuse on behavior, mood, cognition and neuronal function will be discussed. Studies with humans will be integrated with basic preclinical studies on the neurobiological basis of drug action and drug abuse. There will be detailed coverage of synaptic transmission and the distribution, regulation and integration of brain neurotransmitter systems. The focus is on addictive drugs, including: opiates (heroin, morphine, opium), sedative - hypnotics (alcohol, barbituatese), anxiolytics (benzodiazepines), psychomotor stimulants (amphetamine, cocaine, nicotine), marijuana, hallucinogens (LSD, mescaline), hallucinogenic-stimulants (MDA, MDMA), and dissociative anesthetics (PCP). P: BIO 201 , CHM 203 , PSY 201 , PSY 437 .