PSY 281 : The Effects of Drugs on the Body & Mind
This course is designed to help students gain knowledge of alcohol and other drugs in the context of individual use. The primary goal is to understand how drugs alter the brain and have an impact on thoughts, feelings and behaviors. There will be an emphasis on drug induced changes in neurological functioning. Etiology of addiction from a biological perspective will be explored. This course serves as a prerequisite for many of the courses in the Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate Program. Three lecture hours per week.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define and discriminate between the categories of drugs of abuse.
2. Describe current trends in drug use and abuse in the United States.
3. Analyze and explain how drugs affect the nervous system and how they are processed by the body.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological, sociological, and physiological effects of mood altering substances.
5. Recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction.
6. Identify the biological perspective of drug addiction.