About the Course

  • September 10, to November 19, 2014 (no class October 29): Wednesdays, 6:30 - 9:30pm
  • San Francisco: Room 607, Art and Design Center, 95 Third St. (MAP)
  • Download Course Syllabus [PDF]
Required Reading:
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Participants will be able to:
  • describe and distinguish substances and behaviors and their addictive liability.
  • expand their understanding of biological systems in predisposing, resisting, and adapting to addiction.
  • explain mechanisms and actions of addictive substances and behaviors.
  • relate biological to psychological, emotional, and behavioral aspects of addictive behaviors.
  • articulate the evidence-based scientific perspectives on substance use disorders.
  • explain mechanisms and actions of the major psychiatric medications and the rationale for their use in mental health.

Class 1: INTRODUCTION: THE SCIENCE OF ADDICTION
Substance use disorders as a continuum of severity. What science has revealed about the nature, and the treatment for substance use disorders.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Section 1 Introduction and Chapter 1

Class 2: BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY: BASIC PRINCIPLES
Drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Hepatic mechanisms in drug metabolism. Dose-response relationships. Drug classification by shared “mechanism of action”. Tolerance, withdrawal syndromes, and environmental cueing (cued reactivity).
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapters 2 and 3

Class 3: AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Central Nervous System (CNS). Brain-Behavior relationships. Gross anatomical features of the brain. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and substructures. Autonomic processes. Central and peripheral actions of drugs. Brain mapping exercise.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapter 4 and the Section II Introduction

Class 4 and 5: NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
Neurophysiology and the dynamic process of neurotransmission. Critical synaptic defenses and neural stabilizing mechanisms. Neurotransmitters: Types, function, amino precursors, pathology, and drugs related to transmitter substances. Receptor subtypes and relative functions.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapters 5, 6 and read about hepatitis in the Appendix section.

Class 6: ALCOHOL AND SEDATIVE HYPNOTICS
A discussion of the mechanisms of action for alcohol and CNS depressants. Overview of the pharmacology of alcohol. Biogenetic markers. Ethnic and gender differences in metabolism. Withdrawal syndromes and medical detox protocols. Co-occurring medical conditions in chronic alcoholism. Medicines for the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapter 7

Class 7: PSYCHOSTIMULANTS
A discussion of the mechanisms of action for psychostimulants. Overview of stimulant drugs: medical use and illicit abuse. Methamphetamine and cocaine: pharmacological aspects. Other stimulants including MDMA, methylphenidate, and over-the-counter (OTC’s) including ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Behavioral toxicity and drug induced organic syndromes Withdrawal syndromes and special treatment considerations.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapter 8 and read Drug Use and Infectious Diseases and also HIV/AIDS in the Appendix section.

Class 8: NARCOTIC ANALGESICS
A discussion of the mechanisms of action for opioids. Overview of opioid pharmacology including synthetic opioid derivatives. Narcotic withdrawal syndrome and clinical interventions. Medicines for the treatment of opioid addiction including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. IV drug use and related medical concerns including HIV, HCV, and other blood-borne pathogens.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapters 14, 15

Class 9: MEDICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH: PSYCHIATRIC MEDICINE
A discussion of the mechanisms of action for antidepressant, antipsychotic and anti-mania medications. Dual Diagnosis treatment considerations for the addictions counselor.
  • Reading assignment for next week’s class: Chapters 9 and 13. Also, read the Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide in the Appendix section.

Class 10: CANNABINOIDS
A discussion of the mechanisms of action for cannabinoids. Overview of the cannabinoids: pharmacologic and biobehavioral issues. Treatment considerations for cannabis abuse disorder. The human endocannabinoid system, ligands and receptor subtypes: Toward cannabinoid-based medicines.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

EVALLUATION, GRADING POLICY & EXAMS
Evaluations will be based on a combination of attendance, final exam and the essay assignment. Class attendance is weighted at 40%, the Final Exam is 40%, and the Written Essay is 20%.

ATTENDANCE
This course has 10 classes. During the last 25+ years, I have consistently found that missing even a single class generally lowers a student's overall grade by about 5%. So, missing more than 1 class can have a significant impact on the average student (drops you from an A to a B, a B to C or a C to a D). For this reason, if you know that you have a conflict with this class and plan to miss more than 2 classes, you should drop this course and take it when it fits your schedule better. I also do not require elaborate excuses to make up a class (just show up).

ESSAY
Topics must be science oriented and within the area of behavioral pharmacology. Essays are to be at least 5 type written pages of content (12 font size), double spaced with a references list at the end of the paper. The topics below are suggestions to give you an idea of the type of subject matter to research and write about. Other topics can be used but must first be approved by the instructor prior to submitting the paper.

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR YOUR ESSAY
  1. Naltrexone as an Anti-craving Medication
  2. The Neurobiology of Methamphetamine Induced Depression
  3. Biogenetic Markers for Alcoholism
  4. Medicinal Use of Marijuana: Research-based Evidence for Cannabinoid Pharmacotherapy
ACCEPTABLE REFERENCES FOR ESSAYS
All references must be primary sources from peer-reviewed journals or other credible sources. The Internet has become a popular student resource. Unfortunately, the majority of information on the Web is not peer-reviewed and therefore not very credible or accurate. The use of inappropriate references will negatively impact the grade for your paper. (see some of the acceptable Internet reference sites below).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Wikipedia and GOOGLE are not peer-reviewed and therefore not acceptable reference sources.


SOME CREDIBLE WEBSITES

Addiction Technology Transfer Center
http://www.nattc.org/asme.asp

Brookhaven Addiction Research. Center for Translational Neuroimaging
http://www.bnl.gov/CTN/addiction.asp

Institute for Research, Education and training in Addictions (IRETA)
http://ireta.org/

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
http://www.drugabuse.gov/

Society of Neuroscience. Advancing the Understanding of the Brain and Nervous System
http://www.sfn.org/

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
http://www.uclaisap.org/

University of Utah. Genetic Science Learning Center
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/