Contemporary Issues in Drug Abuse:
Distinguishing Addictive & Nonaddictive Substances

Seminar Description

The use and abuse of many psychoactive substances are related to their mood-elevating and reinforcing effects. Drug addiction is generally viewed as a behavior reinforced by drug administration. The first part of this seminar reviews the experimental methods used to study drug reinforcement and briefly examines the advantages and limitations of each technique. The central topics are: drug self-administration procedures, conditioning methods of assessing drug reward, drug discrimination methodology, interactions of addictive drugs with brain stimulation reward, and assessment of drug reward in human subjects. The second part of the seminar applies these methods to the study of commonly used substances such as caffeine and nicotine. The scientific evidence for addiction to these and other commonly used substances is examined through discussion and debate.

Prerequisites

Drug Addiction (Psy 351) is highly recommended.

Format

This is an advanced undergraduate seminar. The primary emphasis is on student presentations and discussion, supplemented with lectures by the instructor. Much of the discussion follows a team-debate format, with students taking opposing sides of an issue (e.g., "Is caffeine addictive?"). Students compile an annotated bibliography based on library research, outline the primary arguments for their position on an issue, orally present their arguments in class, and debate the issue with the opposing side. After debate, open discussion follows in an attempt to reach consensual agreement on the issues debated.

Seminar Grade

The seminar grade is determined primarily by quality of the presentation outlines, the oral presentations, and the annotated bibliography. Because this is a seminar, attendance is mandatory and participation in discussion contributes significantly to the course grade. Grading policy may be revised after final enrollment has been reached (e.g., term papers may be required).