Catalog Description

Formerly known as PSYC 50
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: The use, misuse, and abuse of all major families of psychoactive drugs, including opioids, stimulants, tobacco, marijuana, hallucinogens, alcohol, psychotherapeutic drugs, and sedative-hypnotics. Topics covered include cross-cultural usage, theories of addiction and treatment, government regulation, and mechanisms of drug action. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Distinguish between the actions of the major classes of psychoactive drugs.
  • CSLO #2: Critically evaluate the history of drug regulation in the United States.
  • CSLO #3: Compare and contrast past and present drug treatment and drug prevention approaches and analyze their effectiveness.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Describe the historical use of drugs worldwide and the changes that have taken place.
2. List and describe risk and protective factors associated with drug use and abuse.
3. Explain the biological explanations for drug use and dependency.
4. Describe and explain the genetic factors associated with drug use.
5. Describe how the American Psychiatric Association has categorized psychiatric disorders, and outline the categories of psychotherapeutic drugs used to treat these disorders.
6. Explain how physical and psychological dependence influence drug use.
7. Compare and contrast the psychoactive effects of major drug groups.
8. Critically analyze various drug control policies in the U.S. at the federal and state levels.
9. Discuss treatment options and problems.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Behavioral Sciences
    • AA/AS - Health Ed/Physical Ed
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - D9 Psychology
    • CSUGE - E1 Lifelong Learning and Self-Development
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

      Articulation Information

      • CSU Transferable

      Methods of Evaluation

      • Classroom Discussions
        • Example: After watching two video clips exploring doctor-assisted suicide, in small groups, discuss the use of barbiturates for euthanasia purposes. Should these drugs be made available to those with terminal diseases who wish to end their lives? What restrictions or laws should regulate who can get access to the medications? What ethical issues does this practice raise? Graded based on participation/non-participation.
      • Essay Examinations
        • Example: Discuss two different evidence-based treatments for opioid addiction. identify the pros and cons of each method and potential risks and concerns with each method. Graded using a rubric.
      • Objective Examinations
        • Example: (Multiple-choice questions): Endogenous cannabinoids display: A. pathological excitatory activity B. reverse synaptic transmission C. dopaminergic and serotonergic effects D. mixed agonist/antagonist activity.
      • Problem Solving Examinations
        • Example: Rat A and Rat B are competently injected with the same dosage of morphine, but only Rat B dies. Give 6 reasons to explain this outcome. Graded using a rubric.

      Repeatable

      No

      Methods of Instruction

      • Lecture/Discussion
      • Distance Learning

      Lecture:

      1. Instructor will show the film "The Secret Life of the Brain: The Teenage Years" in class and facilitate small group discussions on how alcohol impacts individuals and society at large with regard to drug dependence, crime, abuse, violence and public health. Instructor will assign a project in which students collect alcohol advertisements on television and/or print media and critically analyze how the advertisers persuade their younger target audience to purchase their product. These findings are then presented in class in small groups.
      2. Instructor will invite guest speakers from local drug treatment facilities to address the class as a panel. Students will generate questions in advance of class. After the panel, students will break into small groups and compare/contrast the different programs, and how their practices compare to what the textbook recommends as "best practices" for treatment.

      Distance Learning

      1. Students will start one discussion thread and reply to at least two other students' threads on the following topic: Find a news story that illustrates how drugs can be a social problem. For example, a drunk driving accident story or a drug bust. Summarize the news story, and discuss how the story relates to the chapter on drug terms in your textbook. You may include key terms such as behavioral toxicity, physiological toxicity, acute versus chronic drug effects, etc. Remember to incorporate textbook or lecture material in your thread and replies.

      Typical Out of Class Assignments

      Reading Assignments

      1. Read the textbook chapter on caffeine, and be prepared to discuss the use of energy drinks and potential risks among those under 18 years old. 2. Read the chapter on "How Drugs Work" and be prepared to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of each method of administration (oral, inhalation, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, topical).

      Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

      1. Write a paragraph encapsulating your arguments for where a new drug should be scheduled. Assume this new drug is a non-addictive alcohol, but with the same intoxicating properties as ethanol. Consider the defining characteristics of each schedule level in your arguments. Grading determined by a rubric. 2. Find a reputable, empirical online source on the use of hallucinogenic drugs as an add-on treatment to psychotherapy to address PTSD OR end of life issues. Summarize the evidence to date on the drug's benefits as an add-on treatment. Discuss the potential risks of using the drug as a form of therapy. In your opinion, should the drug be legalized as a form of treatment for certain populations? Why or why not? Grading using a rubric.

      Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

      Required Materials

      • Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior
        • Author: Hart & Ksir
        • Publisher: McGraw-Hill
        • Publication Date: 2018
        • Text Edition: 17th
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:
      • Drugs and Society
        • Author: Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein
        • Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning
        • Publication Date: 2020
        • Text Edition: 14th
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:
      • Drug Use and Abuse
        • Author: Abadinsky
        • Publisher: Cengage
        • Publication Date: 2018
        • Text Edition: 9th
        • Classic Textbook?:
        • OER Link:
        • OER:

      Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.