Natural Science 0138 - The Science of Addiction

This course will provide an overview of the science and issues surrounding substance-related addictions and the processes and mechanisms that underlie addiction. We will address both the genetic and environmental underpinnings of addiction and introduce the epidemiology and developmental course of addiction. Students will work in teams of 4-5 to investigate an area of interest in the science of addiction. The groups will use 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 will be responsible for some aspect of the research and will report back to the whole group. The groups will present their findings to the whole class. The students' goal is 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 past 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 will have the opportunity to work in three groups over the semester and to complete three projects and presentations. Students will also learn to find and read scientific research articles on topics of their choosing. They will write analytical critiques of these articles and will have numerous opportunities to revise these based on the instructors' comments. These critiques will form 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 will be used in putting together their final papers. All students are also introduced to elementary aspects of data analysis and statistics. We also will have presentations by local treatment counselors as well as a video presentations from a local physician specializing in addictions treatment. A final portfolio of all work will be used to evaluate each student's progress.

Physical and Biological Sciences Independent Work Quantitative Skills Writing and Research Students are generally expected to spend at least 6-8 hours per week on preparation and work outside of class time.