Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title HS 1740: Pharmacology of Addiction

Catalog Description

Credits 2
Hours/Week 2
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) ENGL 1117
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) NA

Course Description

This course provides students with an introduction to psycho-pharmacological aspects of addiction by evaluating prime effects and side-effects of mood-altering drugs. This course will discuss drug categories, routes of administration, incidence, prevalence, mechanisms of actions, and treatment approaches. Physical, social, and psychological effects of drugs are also addressed.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

February, 2025

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. Ethical and legal standards
  2. Federal and state laws
  3. New drug development
  4. History, prevalence, incidences, and effects of psychoactive substances
  5. Cocaine, amphetamine, stimulants
  6. Nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana
  7. Opiates, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and antidepressants
  8. Steroids, supplements, herbal meds, prescription, and over-the-counter
  9. How drugs work and act in the body/brain
  10. Neurons and neurotransmission
  11. Brain structures and their functions
  12. Administration, absorption, distribution, and elimination
  13. Dose-effects response relationship, drug safety and effectiveness, and drug interactions
  14. Psychological, social, behavioral, and physical effects
  15. Treatment options in patient care
  16. Characteristics of users
  17. Special populations
  18. Prevention, medication, self-help, and traditional models

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Recall ethical and legal standards influencing drug use / abuse.
  2. Explain the history and intended purpose of a psychoactive substance.
  3. Describe the administration, absorption, distribution, and elimination process of a drug.
  4. Summarize how drugs work in the body.
  5. Discuss prime and side effects of a drug.
  6. Identify drug prevalence, incidents, and drug classification systems.
  7. Describe drug safety, effectiveness, dose responses, and drug half-life.
  8. Distinguish categories of psychoactive drugs on the brain.
  9. Differentiate tolerance, physical dependence, and psychological dependence.
  10. Identify which medications are used for which psychological disorders.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

NA

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Communication
Students will communicate appropriately for their respective audiences.

Special Information (if any)

None