Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Articulate the effect of trauma and/or the chronic use of drugs on the brain including neurochemistry and specific psychological and behavioral impairment.
2. Identify effects particular to specific drugs of abuse (e.g. up and down regulation, symptoms of use, route of administration, tendency to physical dependency, and challenges for recovery).
3. Describe treatment options including  levels of care and medication-assisted treatment.

At the beginning of each term, the instructor will detail the methods used

to evaluate the student acquisition of the targeted competencies. The

methods used may include one or more of the following tools: examinations,

quizzes, homework assignments, professional journal reviews, research papers,

small group projects, oral presentations or maintenance of a journal.

A. Introduction to Human Physiology

1.1 Nervous System

1.2 Endocrine System

1.3 Respiratory System

1.4 Circulatory System

1.5 Immune System

1.6 Digestive System

1.7 Reproductive System

B. Basic Pharmacology

2.1 Routes of Administration

2.2 Drug Metabolism

2.3 Drug excretion, drug testing

2.4 Half life

2.5 Dosage and Potency

2.6 ED50, LD50

2.7 Drug Interactions

2.8 Physical Dependency

2.9 Detoxification

C. Drug Categories

3.1 Stimulants (including nicotine)

3.2 Depressants

3.3 Inhalants

3.4 Opiates (including methadone)

3.5 Hallucinogens

3.6 Marijuana

3.7 Psychotropic medications

3.8 New drug trends

D. Drug Treatment

4.1 Drug Therapies (including methadone, buprenorphine, and other medication

assisted treatment.)

4.2 Treatment protocols for each drug category

4.3 Emerging treatment issues

4.4 Responding to infectious diseases (Tuberculosis, HIV,

Hepatitis C) common to the addictive population

4.5 Diagnosis (including DSM IV and ASAM criteria)

4.6 Fetal Drug Effects

4.7 Medical Complications

LEARNING RESOURCES

1) The primary source of the content for this course will be textbooks, web-based

resources and peer reviewed journals which address the targeted concepts.

2) Class lectures and discussion activities will be utilized to illustrate and facilitate

understanding of the targeted concepts.

COURSE ACTIVITIES AND DESIGN

1. Identify the basic structures and functions of a neuron and how

drugs affect the neuron.

2. Trace drugs effects to appropriate brain structures.

3. Develop a basic understanding of how the major body systems

function and how drug use affects that functioning.

4. Describe the basic pharmacology of targeted drugs from each

drug category.

5. Identify physical dependency, overdose risk, withdrawal and

treatment strategies for each drug category.

6. Articulate the physical consequences, the relative risk,

prevention and management strategies for targeted infectious

diseases (Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C).

Instructional Delivery Mode: This course has been approved for classroom, hybrid, and distance modalities.