Course Info: NS-0138

This course provided an overview of the science and issues surrounding substance-related addictions and the processes and mechanisms that underlie addiction. We addressed both the genetic and environmental underpinnings of addiction and introduced the epidemiology and developmental course of addiction.

Students worked in teams of 4-5 to investigate an area of interest in the science of addiction. The groups made extensive use of the primary scientific and medical literature in an effort to understand the use, effectiveness and limitations of the particular treatments or approaches selected. Each team member was responsible for some aspect of the research and reported back to the whole group. The groups presented their findings to the whole class. The students' goal was to assess the effectiveness of the various approaches by examining the available data carefully, explaining the methodologies employed to look at the treatment, and critically reading the authors' conclusions. Examples of the projects include: How do benzodiazapines affect episodic memory? How does cocaine affect the progression of HIV? Is sex addiction a real addiction? What alternatives to methadone are available in the treatment of pregnant women opioid addicts? Is caffeine an addictive drug? How effective is psilocybin for treating substance use disorder? Does alcohol affect men and women differently from a brain chemistry perspective? Each student had the opportunity to work in three groups over the semester and to complete three projects and presentations. Students also learned to find and read scientific research articles on topics of their choosing. They learned to write analytical critiques of these articles and had numerous opportunities to revise these based on the instructors' comments. These critiques formed the basis of the final papers in which students explored a particular narrow topic on some aspect of addiction. The final compilation of the three critiques was used in putting together their final papers. All students were also introduced to elementary aspects of data analysis and statistics. We also had presentations by local treatment counselors as well as a video presentation from a local physician specializing in addictions treatment. A final portfolio of all work was used to evaluate each student's progress.