COURSE SYLLABUS PSYC W2460: Drugs & Behavior Meeting Time: TTH 8:40-9:55 am, Room 614 Schermerhorn Columbia University Fall 2013

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS PSYC W2460: Drugs & Behavior Meeting Time: TTH 8:40-9:55 am, Room 614 Schermerhorn Columbia University Fall 2013 Instructors: Professor Carl L. Hart Office hrs Location: Schermerhorn 758 Office Hours: Thurs 10 am noon; by appointment Teaching Assistant Office Hours Allison Turza Bajger TBA Danielle Cosentino TBA Chad Mesisco TBA Course Description. This course examines the use of psychoactive drugs, using this topic to explore human behavior: from the interactions between chemicals and neurons to the psychological and physiological effects on the individual to the impact on society; we will touch on topics relating to biology, pharmacology, neuroscience, chemistry, anthropology, history, law, sociology, and political science. The effects of psychoactive drug use on the brain and on behavior will help us to understand human behavior in a biological context; the effects of psychoactive drug use on society will help us to understand the behavior of social and political groups and how they influence the individual. Required Text. Drugs, Society, & Human Behavior (2013), 15 th Edition, by C.L. Hart and C. Ksir, (available at the Columbia University Bookstore and online sources, e.g., Amazon.com, BN.com) Supplemental Readings. Although the textbook gives a general overview of topics discussed in class, scientific articles and chapters from other texts will also be assigned. These readings will focus on specific issues or present a particular theoretical perspective. Copies of articles will be posted online. 1. Alexander, Michelle (2010). Lockdown. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (The New Press, New York 2010) 2. Brecher EM (1972). How to launch a nationwide drug menace. In: The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs. Little Brown & Co, Boston, pp Kirkpatrick MG, Gunderson EW, Johanson CE, Levin FR, Foltin RW, Hart CL (2012) Comparison of intranasal methamphetamine and d-amphetamine self-administration by humans. Addiction 107, Hart CL, Marvin CB, Silver R, Smith EE (2012) Is cognitive functioning impaired in methamphetamine users? A critical review. Neuropsychopharmacology 37, Hart CL (2013) Drug policy based on fact, not fiction. High Price: A neuroscientist's journey of selfdiscovery that challenges everything you know about drugs and society. Harper-Collins: New York

2 6. Thompson PM, Hayashi KM, Simon SL, Geaga JA, Hong MS, Sui Y, Lee JY, Toga AW, Ling W, London ED (2004). Structural abnormalities in the brains of human subjects who use methamphetamine. Journal of Neuroscience, 24, Sizemore GM, Co C, Koves TR, Martin TJ, Smith JE (2004) Time-dependent recovery from the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the rat nucleus accumbens on cocaine self-administration and the levels of dopamine in microdialysates. Psychopharmacology 171, Turner EH, Matthews AM, Linardatos E, Tell RA, Rosenthal R (2008). Selective publication of antidepressant trials and its influence on apparent efficacy. New England Journal of Medicine, 358, Classes and Examinations. This course will consist mainly of lectures, which will provide a more in-depth analysis of issues covered in the readings as well as information not covered in the readings. Lectures are divided into six sections; there will be three exams consisting of multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions. The first exam will cover sections 7, 1, and 2 and associated readings and the second exam will cover sections 2-5 and associated readings. Although the final exam will focus primarily on section 6 and associated readings, it will also cover materials cumulatively for the entire course. In addition, there will be unannounced quizzes that will be completed during class. Quizzes will consist of short answer and essay questions based on the previous lecture and on the assigned reading(s). If you are not present at the time a quiz is given you will receive a zero on that quiz. To make up for this draconian policy, however, I will drop your lowest quiz score. Thus, if you miss a quiz, this zero will be dropped. Percentage of grade First and Second Exams 25% each Cumulative Final Exam 40% Unannounced Quizzes 10% Grading Scale % - A 80-89% - B 70-79% - C 60-69% - D Below 60% - F Because of the size of this class, it will not be possible to schedule alternative exam times for students who have difficult examination schedules, travel plans, etc. An unexcused absence from any of the exams will result in a grade of F on that exam. To be excused from an exam you must personally notify Prof. Hart before the exam and must present some evidence certifying the legitimacy of your absence (e.g., doctor s note). Make-up exams will be composed of short answer and essay questions primarily, and will be completed no later than one week following the missed scheduled exam. Academic Integrity From the Faculty Statement on Academic Integrity - "The intellectual venture in which we are all engaged requires of faculty and students alike the highest level of personal and academic integrity. As members of an academic community, each one of us bears the responsibility to participate in scholarly discourse and research in a manner characterized by intellectual honesty and scholarly integrity.... In practical terms, this means that, as students, you

3 must be responsible for the full citations of others ideas in all of your research papers and projects; you must be scrupulously honest when taking your examinations; you must always submit your own work and not that of another student, scholar, or internet agent." Cheating on assignments or exams and plagiarism are very serious violations within the academic community. Students are expected to do their own work on all tests and assignments for this class. You are expected to always act in accordance with the Columbia honor code. Any student found cheating or plagiarizing in this class will be reported to the university for academic discipline. If you have questions about academic integrity at Columbia, please refer to the following link:

4 Class Schedule. Dates Readings Lecture Topics Section 7: Prevention and Treatment Introduction Text: Chapter 18 Treating drug addiction I Text: Chapter 17 Treating drug addiction II Section 1: Drug use in modern society Section 2: How drugs work Text: Chapter 3 Alexander 2010: Lockdown Drug Control: The war on drugs Text: Chapter 1 Measuring the extent of drug use Text: Chapter 2 Brecher 1972 Drug use as deviant behavior Kirkpatrick et al Determining drug effects: Psychosocial factors Video: Development of the Birth Control Pill Text: Chapter 5 Determining drug effects: Pharmacokinetics Hart 2013: Drug policy based on fact, not fiction Drug Control: Alternatives to the war on drugs EXAM 1 Section 2: How drugs work Section 3: Uppers and Downers Text: Chapter 4 Handout Video: The Case of the Frozen Addict: Understanding the connection between Parkinson's disease and drug abuse Sizemore et al Dopamine pathways, nerve cells, and neurotransmission Text: Chapter 6 Crack Cocaine: The most dangerous drug ever? Hart et al Methamphetamine: The New Crack Thompson et al Brain Imaging: What's in a pretty picture?

5 Text: Chapter 7 Sedatives and Hypnotics Text: Chapter 8 Turner et al Do antidepressant medications work? Section 4: Alcohol Section 5: Familiar drugs Academic Holiday Text: Chapter 9 Alcohol: environment, genetics, & pharmacology Text: Chapters 10, 11, & 12 Tobacco and Caffeine EXAM 2 (non-cumulative) Section 6: Restricted drugs Text: Chapter 13 Prescription opioids: The new heroin Text: Chapter 14 The resurgence of hallucinogens Text: Chapter 15 Marijuana: basic behavioral pharmacology THANKSGIVINGS TBA Synthetic drugs: bath salts and spice Text: Chapter 16 Drug use by athletes am 12 pm FINAL EXAM (cumulative) Note: Aspects of this course may be changed if unforeseen circumstances arise; these changes, however, will be announced before they are initiated.