Countries: US

Examines the common uses and abuses of ethyl alcohol. Students review various types of alcohol-containing beverages, the pharmacological properties of alcohol, and the effects of alcohol use on both the individual consumer and society as a whole. The lesson concludes with a brief discussion of alcoholism as a disease.

Discusses the history and pharmacological effects of tobacco use. This lesson reviews the history of tobacco preparation and usage, the pharmacology of nicotine, and the changing social values related to tobacco use. The lesson concludes with a brief discussion of nicotine addiction and treatment.

Reviews the history, pharmacological properties, and effects of caffeine products. Discussion examines how this psychoactive drug is habitually perceived as a mild stimulant as opposed to an actual drug. Discussion uncovers how caffeine is restricted more by supply and demand than regulation, and students compare how the social status of caffeine contrasts dramatically with that of alcohol and tobacco. The lesson concludes with a discussion of concerns related to caffeine use.

Discusses the origins of OTC (Over-the-Counter) drugs and examines how their psychoactive properties go unnoticed by consumers. Students explore the properties of a wide range of OTC’s, including stimulants, diet pills, sleep aids, analgesics, and cold/allergy products. Discussion touches on the interplay between OTC drug use (dictated by changing consumer demands) and FDA regulations (dictated by concerns for safety and effectiveness). Discussion also examines how new psychoactive products are developed and what distinctions determine the difference between OTC and prescription drug status.

Reviews the history of opiate use, particularly in the United States. The lesson traces the historical uses and pharmacology of such drugs as opium, morphine, codeine, heroin, and methadone. Discussion covers the medical uses of opiates (for managing pain or warding off dysentery), the popular use of opiates as recreational drugs, and the heated debate in both treatment centers and law enforcement that result from the general use of opiates.

Continues the discussion of opiate pharmacology introduced in Class 14. This lesson reviews aspects of opiate use with regard to degrees of tolerance, physical dependency, withdrawal symptoms, and toxicity. Students follow the daily lifestyle of an opiate addict, uncover myths and misconceptions surrounding addiction, and trace both the science of and concerns over methadone treatment.

Provides an overview of the course. The lesson introduces and defines concepts used throughout the course. Discussion includes the drug use continuum, the basic principles that apply to all psychoactive drugs, and the dynamic relationship between society, culture, and drug use behavior. The lesson closes with a discussion on the bio/psycho/social approach to understanding drug use and abuse

Focuses on the social and governmental issues. Discussion examines the social context of drug use and the role that government plays in regulating it. Topics in this lesson cover the evolution of social concerns about drug use, the resulting conflicts caused by these concerns, and the questions and issues that need to be addressed in our ever-evolving drug policies.

Presents a history of society’s attitudes toward drug use and its resulting methods of regulation. Students examine the process of drug regulation and review the treatment programs designed to ease the personal and social consequences of drug use and addiction. Several theories are explained, and treatment options are discussed.

Introduces the legal issues involved with drug use. Students get an overview of American drug laws as they apply to both legal and illegal psychoactive drugs. Students learn about the two sets of drug regulations that exist in the U.S. and examine their resulting regulatory systems, which overlap in some areas but operate independently in others. Discussion considers how these regulations reflect differing definitions and values regarding drugs in our society.