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Aug 02, 2025
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PSY 2980 - DRUGS AND BEHAVIOR
credits: 3.0
PSY 2980-SOC 2980 CO-REQUISITE Courses. Explores the mechanisms of psychoactive drugs such as prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, recreational drugs including licit or illicit drugs. Born most directly from medicine, neuroscience, and psychology, this interdisciplinary area touches on topics relating to biology, pharmacology, chemistry, anthropology, history, law, sociology, and political science to understand the effects of drug use on human behavior. These topics not only focus on how the interactions between chemicals and neurons affect individuals psychologically and physiologically but also analyze how these psychological and physiological effects on individuals impact human societies. By reviewing theory, research, and other sources on drug use classifications, trends, and patterns, this course examines how drugs impact people’s lives in school, jobs, health, and other important domains of society within social groups. In addition, this course examines psychological disorders related to substance use and new drug treatments. In summary, this course presents an overview of the current information in the interdisciplinary field of drugs, society, and human behavior. Objectives: A) Identify drug definition, classifications, and scheduling in the United States; B) Describe physiological and psychological effects of different drugs use on human behavior; C) Discuss legal and political issues of illicit drug use and off-label use of licit drugs across the particular historical periods; D) Identify and explain laws and regulations of drug use in the United States and other countries; E) Evaluate how the media impacts drug use trends and patterns in social groups; F) Critique the phenomenon of overprescribing legal drugs in special populations. Method of Instruction: Taught mainly in the lecture and seminar format, students will be expected to read assigned chapters from the textbook and supplemental readings prior to class, and come prepared to discuss key issues. Lectures and seminars will be supplemented by a field trip, as well as student presentations. Two or three films will be screened outside of class for the purpose of in-class discussion and debate. Method of Evaluation: Grades will be based on performance on unannounced in-class quizzes, three exams, a class presentation, a paper, and contribution to class discussions. Grading rubric for each assignment will be provided.
Co-Requisite(s): PSY 2980-SOC 2980 Courses.
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