Pre-College Programs Summer Pre-College Courses  « Return to
Course Catalog  Psychoactive Drugs: Brain, Body, Society  One
Section Available to Choose From:  Course DatesWeeksMeeting
TimesStatusInstructor(s)CRN July 14, 2014 - July 18, 20141M-F
9A-11:50AOpenRobert Patrick10050  Course Description  Have you
ever wondered about the difference between recreational and
medicinal usage of psychoactive drugs (drugs that alter mood and
behavior)? Are there basic differences in the action of
psychoactive drugs when they are taken for recreational versus
medicinal purposes? And how does society decide how to
categorize psychoactive drugs: which ones to make legal and
which illegal? Are government policies concerning psychoactive
drugs enacted in a rational manner?  In this course, you will
learn about these issues, as well as basic biological mechanisms
of action of psychoactive drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine,
marijuana, nicotine and caffeine. In addition, you will learn
about psychoactive drugs that are used to t