Human Drug Use and Abuse
PSY 5260 – Fall 2009
HUMAN DRUG USE AND ABUSE
Tues, Thurs 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 1728 Wood Hall
Professor:Dr. Lisa Baker()
Teaching Assistant: John Panos ()
Office:3754 Wood Hall, 387-4484
Office hours:Tuesdays 12:30 to 2:30 or by appointment
COURSE CONTENT
This course provides a general overview of the basic principles of pharmacology, introduces the behavioral and physiological actions of medicinal and recreational drugs, and surveys the contributing factors involved in responsible and irresponsible drug use. Although human drug use and abuse are the primary focus of the course, nonhuman research findings are emphasized where appropriate. The main topics covered in this course include:
Classification and identification of psychoactive drugs
Basic principles of drug disposition in the body (pharmacokinetics)
Mechanisms of drug action in the CNS (pharmacodynamics)
Mechanisms of drug tolerance, withdrawal, and dependence
Behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of the most of the major psychoactive drug classes, including:
- CNS depressants (sedative-hypnotics)
- CNS stimulants
- Opiates (narcotics)
- Psychiatric Medications (antipsychotics and antidepressants)
- Hallucinogens
- Marijuana
COURSE MATERIALS
Required
McKim, W.A. (2007) Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology. Prentice-Hall
I-Clicker
Dr. Baker’s PowerPoint Lecture Notes and Study Objectives may be retrieved from Dr. Baker’s Psy 5260 Web Site: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~bakerl/psy526.html
Recommended
Julien, R.M. (2007) A Primer of Drug Action. 11th Edition, Worth Publishers (Supplemental text book required for graduate students, recommended for others)
STUDENT PREPARATION AND PARTICIPATION
You are expected to read the required materials and review the lecture notes prior to each class meeting in which that material is to be discussed. You are expected to register your I-clicker under your name and bring it to all class meetings. Lectures will incorporate multiple choice questions designed assess your knowledge and attention to course material as well as your participation in class. Your preparation and participation will be recorded by your I-clicker use and frequently monitored by the instructor. You are also encouraged to complete the study objectives for relevant material as you read each chapter so that you will be prepared to ask questions in class. It will benefit you to bring printed copies of the lecture notes to class to assist note taking. Although there is a significant amount of overlap between the lectures and readings, some material may be presented in lecture that is not in the readings and vice versa.
EVALUATION
Exams: There will be five quizzes (20 points each) and two exams (100 points each) consisting of a mixture of multiple choice, matching and short essay questions. Quizzes will be given approximately every two weeks. Exams will be given on Oct 29 and Dec 14. Your four highest quiz scores and both exam scores will count toward your final course grade.
Make-Up Policy: If a quiz or exam must be missed for LEGITIMATE REASONS (adequately documented according to the instructor’s discretion), then a make-up may be scheduled. Generally, major illnesses and family crises are considered legitimate reasons. Other academic obligations or prior commitments may also be excusable, but are treated as not-crisis situations. Make-ups for non-crisis situations MUST be scheduled prior to the exam to be missed. In the case of a legitimately documented illness or crisis, please notify the instructor as soon as possible to schedule a make-up. If the make-up is scheduled after an exam has been given to the rest of the class, you may be given a different version of the exam.
Attendance and Class Participation: You are expected to attend class and to participate in class discussions. A strong attendance record and participation will facilitate learning and may influence your final grade in borderline cases. Regular participation in class is worth 20 points toward your final grade and will be determined at the discretion of the instructor.
Review Paper (Graduate Students Only): If you are taking this course for graduate credit, you will write a 12-15 page (typed, double spaced) review paper on a research topic relevant to the course content. You are required to use a minimum of five major sources (at least three original research articles and two review articles) and you are expected to write the paper using APA publication format. Guidelines regarding the grading criteria for the paper will be made available by appointment with the instructor. The review paper will be due no later than Dec. 3 and it is worth 50 points toward the final course grade. Late papers will lose 5 points per day.
GRADES
Semester grades will be assigned on the basis of percentage of total possible points earned, as follows:
% of total points letter grade
92-100A
87-91BA
82-86B
77-81CB
72-76C
67-71DC
62-66D
0-61E
A grade of “Incomplete” (I) will be assigned only if a student is, for reasons beyond control, unable to complete the course requirements. If you need to request an incomplete, be sure to make an appointment to discuss your situation in person with the instructor as soon as possible. Waiting until the last week of classes or final exam week to discuss the possibility of an incomplete is not recommended. The instructor reserves the right to deny a request for an incomplete. Poor performance in the course is NOT a sufficient justification for receiving an incomplete in the course.
WMU POLICIES REGARDING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND DIVERSITY
Students are responsible for making themselves aware of and understanding the policies and procedures in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs that pertain to Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. The policies can be found at http://catalog.wmich.edu under Academic Policies, Student Rights and Responsibilities. If there is reason to believe you have been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with your instructor if you are uncertain about an issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
Students may access the Code of Honor and general academic policies on issues of diversity, religious observance, and student disabilities at http://osc.wmich.edu and www.wmich.edu/registrar
WMU EMAIL POLICY
Students are expected to be aware of WMU’s policy regarding email use. The only email address that should be used for communication between WMU students and WMU faculty and staff is the email address associated with a BroncoNet ID. Students can not automatically forward all of their email from this address to other addresses. Students can access this email account or get instructions for obtaining a BroncoNet ID at GoWMU.wmich.edu. If you send an email to the instructor and you expect a reply, please be sure to use “Psy 3720” in the subject line.
CELL PHONES are to be turned off and not used at any time during the class.
PSY 526, Summer I 2009
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE
DATE TOPIC READING ASSIGNMENTS in McKim
Sept 8Course Introduction, Historical Perspectives on Drug Use TBA
Sept 10, 15Basic Principles of Pharmacology Chapter 1
Sept 17Quiz 1
Sept 22, 24Research Designs and Procedures Chapter 2
in Behavioral Pharmacology
Sept 29Drug Actions in the Nervous SystemChapter 4
Oct 1Quiz 2
Oct 6, 8Concepts of Tolerance and DependenceChapters 3 & 5
Oct 13, 15CNS Depressants: Alcohol Chapters 6
Oct 20Quiz 3
Oct 22, 27CNS Depressants: Sedatives, Anxiolytics, InhalantsChapters 7 & 8
Oct 29Midterm Exam
Nov 3, 5CNS Stimulants: Nicotine, CaffeineChapters 9 & 10
Nov 10CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, AmphetamineChapter 11
Nov 12Quiz 4
Nov 17Opiates and Opioid NarcoticsChapter 12
Nov 19, 24Psychiatric MedicationsChapters 13 & 14
Dec 1Quiz 5
Dec 3MarijuanaChapter 15
Dec 8, 10Hallucinogens Chapter 16
Dec 14Final Exam
8:00 a.m. - 10 a.m.