Addiction Research Unit/University at Buffalo: Drug Addiction Syllabus

Drug Addiction
Psychology 451 (Sections A & B) Fall 2005 Term Department of Psychology State University of New York at Buffalo http://wings.buffalo.edu/aru/PSY451syl.htm http://AddictionScience.net (gateway)	Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D. B-77 Park Hall, North Campus Office hours: Wednesday 14:00-16:00 h plus most T/R 15:30 - 18:00 h telephone: 645-3650 ext. 677 e-mail: bozarth@buffalo.edu

Online Course Materials

Click here to view online course materials.

Course Description

The course explores various topics in the study of drug addiction. The primary emphasis is on psychological and biological theories of drug addiction, with only minor attention given to demographic data, clinical diagnosis, and treatment. Underlying factors that are common in cases of addiction to different classes of drugs are identified. Psychomotor stimulant (e.g., amphetamine, cocaine) and opiate (e.g., heroin, morphine) drugs figure prominently in an examination of the pharmacological properties of addictive drugs. Much of the course relates the important mood-elevating effects of these drugs to their biological actions. Other factors that may contribute to drug addiction are also examined.

Prerequisites

Introductory Psychology, Research Methods, Biopsychology, or by permission of the instructor. Some background in biology or physiology is highly recommended. Students who have previously taken an introductory level survey course examining illicit drugs are best prepared. Addiction involves the actions of drugs on brain systems, and students lacking appropriate background in the Biological Sciences should not expect to do well in this course.

Instructional Format

This is a lecture course with some group discussions based on the assigned readings. Video tapes and other assignments supplement the regular course material. Some material is available only on the Internet and students are required to have an active computer account. A ListServ-based discussion group is used to address questions regarding the reading assignments, lecture material, discussions and exams, and all students are required to participate in the online discussion group (i.e., http://wings.buffalo.edu/aru/ARUdiscussion.htm). Enrolled students will be automatically subscribed at the end of the second week of class.

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Reading Material

Required reading material for this course will be on deposit at a local photocopy center (see Online Course Materials). This material is not available for loan from the instructor. Some additional material may be found on the AddictionScience.net web site. Other reading assignments are made from the professional literature and are placed on reserve in the undergraduate library. Reading assignments are made 'in class' and/or posted to the Discussion List.

Course Grade

Grades are determined by performance on three term exams that are scheduled during regular class periods. Each term exam is weighted equally for determining the course grade. Make-up exams are allowed only with permission of the instructor prior to the scheduled test date. Extraordinary circumstances, along with the appropriate documentation, should be brought to the attention of the instructor for special consideration.

Exam Schedule
29 September	08 November	08 December

Attendance

Class attendance and discussions constitute an important part of this course. Students are responsible for all material discussed in class and for material contained in the assigned readings. Students must obtain notes from fellow students for missed class periods -- there are no standard notes available from the instructor, and there are no private tutorials for this course. The instructor is available throughout the semester to help students individually and in small groups with the more difficult material during regular and extended office hours (see above).

Other Policies

Important Notice This course has been renumbered from PSY 351 to PSY 451. Students who have previously taken PSY 351 (as Drug Addiction) under the old numbering system are not eligible to receive credit a second time for this course.

Changing classroom dynamics necessitate posting some explicit expectations for student behavior. Click here to read principles of student conduct in effect for this course that supplement those outlined in the University at Buffalo Undergraduate Catalog. Continued enrollment in this course presumes the student has read and will adhere to these principles.

Notice: Students with disabilities (physical or psychological) that require special consideration should notify the instructor and the Office of Disability Services (25 Capen Hall, 645-2608) during the first two weeks of class. Various support services may be available.

Copyright Notice

The material contained on this web site and the material distributed for class are protected by U.S. and International copyright laws. Students are expressly prohibited from making audio or video recordings of lecture material and discussions and from compilation and distribution of class material except for their own private use.

Lecture Topics

Course Overview

Case Studies

Definitions/Diagnostic Criteria

Demographic & Epidemiological Considerations

Principles of Drug Action

Pharmacokinetics
Pharmacodynamics
Neuropharmacology
Drug Classification Theories of Addiction Psychodynamic
Sociological
Tension Reduction
Physical Dependence
Reinforcement
Derived Process Methods of Studying Drug Reinforcement Preclinical (IVSA, CPP, DD, BSR)
Clinical Addiction as a Motivational Process

Neurobiology of Brain Reward Systems

Prototypic Addiction Drugs

Psychomotor Stimulants
Opioids Other Licit and Illicit Drugs

Other Considerations

Neuroadaptive Effects
Stress Effects on Initiation and Relapse to Addiction
Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Addiction
Treatment Considerations
Addiction to Commonly Used Substances?