ST: Biology of Addiction

Catalog description

Special Topic: Biology of Addiction. An overview of the mechanisms of substance abuse in the central nervous system. This ranges from a molecular level (neural signaling, neurotransmitters) to a systems level (neuroanatomy and neural pathways). The primary focus is commonly misused drugs such as stimulants, nicotine, alcohol, and opiates, with additional examination of non-substance addictions such as gambling. The course concludes with a broad discussion of ongoing therapies and interventions in addiction and an assessment of their strengths and limitations.Prerequisite: BIO-150 and BIO 251.