COURSE CONTENT
There are eleven lessons in the course covering -
1. Introduction: A history of the use and misuse of drugs in society
- Scope and nature of drugs; legal and illegal
- Amphetamine
- Cocaine
- Crack
- LSD
- Ritalin
- Steroids
- How heroin is used
- Medical consequences of chronic heroin abuse
- Names used for heroin
2. Effects of drugs on the individual and society
- Community acceptance
- Terminology
- Why people use drugs
- Addiction; how drugs work in the brain
- Central nervous system
- Physiological and psychological effects of drugs
- Alcohol effects
- Sedative effects
- Stimulant effects
- Hallucinogenics
- Psychological effects of drugs
3. Legally restricted drugs: Stimulants and narcotics
- Stimulants
- Symptoms of abuse
- How cocaine is abused
- How does cocaine effect the brain
- What adverse effects does cocaine have on health
- Added danger; cocaethylene
- Treatment options
- Scope of cocaine abuse
- Narcotics
- Abuse symptoms
- Forms and dangers
- Designer drugs
- Ecstasy pill
4. Legally restricted drugs: Hallucinogens and marijuana
- Effects of hallucinogens
- Symptoms of abuse
- LSD
- Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder
- Marijuana
- Effects of marijuana on the brain
- Symptoms of abuse, forms of marijuana and dangers
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Symptoms of abuse, forms of PCP and dangers
5. Legally restricted drugs: Steroids
- Steroids
- Symptoms of abuse, forms of steroids and dangers
6. Legal drugs: Alcohol
- Symptoms of abuse and dangers with alcohol
- Alcoholism
- Staying in control with alcohol
- Alcohol amnestic syndrome (Korsakoff's syndrome)
- Treating Korsakoff’s syndrome)
- Alcohol and the developing brain
7. Legal drugs: Tobacco, caffeine and solvents
- Nicotine addiction
- Effects of nicotine on the circulatory system
- Caffeine
- Caffeine addiction
- Solvents (volatile solvent abuse): symptoms and dangers
8. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- Prescription drugs (Over the counter or OTC)
- Groups of prescription drugs
- Misuse of OTC drugs
- Opioids
- Treatments for opioid addiction
- CNS depressants
- Stimulants
- Stimulant abuse and treatment for stimulant addiction
9. Sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Depressants
- Rohypnol
10. Prescription drugs for schizophrenia and affective disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Onset of schizophrenia
- Symptoms of schizophrenia
- Treatment for schizophrenia
- Anti-psychotic drugs
- Patient support system
- Depression
- Depressive disorders
- Type of depression
- Unipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Causes of depression
- Anti-depressants
11. Treatment and preventative education
- Drug addiction
- Behavioural and psychosocial treatments for drug addiction
- Treatments for heroin addiction
- Behavioural therapies for heroin addiction
- Detoxification
AIMS
- Understand the origins and changes in drug use in society;
- Identify patterns of drug-taking behaviour;
- Identify social, psychological and physical consequences of drug-taking on the individual;
- Understand the effects of stimulants and narcotics on the individual;
- Understand the effects of hallucinogens and marijuana on the individual;
- Understand the effects of anabolic steroids on the individual;
- Determine health and behavioural outcomes of alcohol use and misuse;
- Determine health and behavioural outcomes of nicotine, caffeine and solvent use and misuse;
- Understand the effects of the major categories of OTC drugs and prescription regulations;
- Understand the effects of sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs on the brain and behaviour;
- Understand the effects of different types of anti-psychotic and anti-depressant drugs on the brain and behaviour;
- Describe different methods of treatment and prevention of drug-abuse and to discuss ways of educating the public as to the outcomes of taking drugs.
During the course, you will learn more about why people take drugs.
For example -
Some people may take drugs for entertainment and enjoyment. This is sometimes termed 'recreational drug use', a term which almost makes it sound like a relaxing pastime. Some people may try drugs out of curiosity, perhaps because they believe they will have a good time. Others take drugs to reduce stress levels or anxiety, or at least because they believe that this is what is happening. This may be illegal drugs, but prescribed or over the counter drugs are also misused and abused.
Some people may take drugs with no serious consequences and without developing dependence, whilst others can suffer adverse effects to a single dose or quickly develop dependence. The fact that some people are more vulnerable to dependence than others can be attributed to a range of factors, such as:
- A family history of addiction
- Other mental conditions, such as anxiety or depression
- Early use of drugs
- Abuse, neglect or trauma
- The way the drugs are administered.
Taking a drug does not automatically lead to addiction, but at a certain point drug use can move from being casual to being a problem. It is not really about the amount consumed or how often, but the consequences of the drug use. If drug use causes problems in a person’s life, then they may have a drug abuse or dependence problem.
When a person takes a drug, repeated use can cause changes:
- Recreational drugs increase the dopamine levels in your brain, which trigger pleasurable feelings. A person may want those feelings to be repeated, increasing the likelihood they will reuse the drug.
- When a person becomes dependent, they may feel they need the drug to survive.
- Drugs interfere with the person’s ability to think clearly, control their behaviour and exercise good judgement.
- Cravings for some drugs may become more important than anything else, including their own health, happiness, their family and friends.
Taking drugs can fill a need for some people. It may calm them if they are stressed, help them to feel confident in stressful situations, give them relief from pain, fill a void in their life. If drug use does affect a person’s health or life, they should seek professional help and support.
What Are the Advantages of Studying Psychology With ACS Distance Education?
- You can start at any time to suit you.
- They are self-paced.
- You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
- Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in psychology and counselling.
- They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
- Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.
Ready to Enrol? Any Questions?
The course will increase your knowledge of the relationship between the brain, drugs and behaviour. It is useful for anyone supporting/working with people with problems with drugs and the impact on their behaviour.
You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.
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Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.
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