SOC 117 - Understanding Chemical Dependency

 
Description
This is an introductory level course to the field of drug and alcohol studies. Students will acquire a knowledge of the effects and composition of the most frequently abused drugs. Then the study will acquaint the student with the four perspectives currently utilized in the field: the biophysical model; the model from psychology, The Biophysical Model, The Model from Psychology, The Spiritual Paradigm and the Theories of Sociology.

1. Name the most important major families of drugs.
2. Recognize the specific drugs within those families.
3. Relate those drugs to the working of the human brain and the neurotransmitter system.
4. Explain the Biophysical/Biomedical Model for understanding addiction.
5. Restate the Model from Psychology.
6. Explain the Spiritual Paradigm.
7. Describe the Theories of Sociology.

1. The major families of drugs including Sedative-Hypnotics, Opiates, Central Nervous System Stimulants and Hallucinogens
2. Specific examples within those families
3. The nature of addiction and the scope of the problem
4. Differential Diagnosis
5. The four theoretical paradigms: Biophysical, Psychological, Sociological, and Spiritual
6. A history of drugs
7. Drug use in the U.S.
8. Judicial response to the addict

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