Spring 2009
|
Week |
Date |
Title |
Content |
Instructor |
Reading * |
Notes |
1
|
Jan 20 |
Primer on drugs of abuse
Drug disposition I |
Definition of drug class, historical basis, classification;
Intro to pharmacodynamics and pharmaco-kinetic concepts relevant to abused drugs |
Brown
|
|
|
2 |
Jan 27 |
Drug disposition II
Epidemiology of Drug Abuse |
The profile of addiction in humans |
Gavin Bart |
|
|
3 |
Feb 3 |
Basic neurochemistry / Reward circuits
|
Overview of cell biology of neuron and neuronal targets of drugs of abuse; m RNA (adaptive changes); Neuroanatomy of areas contributing to abuse behavior; circuitry; |
Seybold |
|
|
4 |
Feb 10 |
Animal models
Effect of experience on reward |
Animal models of rewarding effects of drugs, phases of drug abuse, tolerance, dependence, discrimination: Stress
|
Thomas/Meisel |
|
Distribute paper for discussion on 2/17 |
5 |
Feb 17 |
Major theories in reward and addiction Discussion of literature |
Commonalities among drug abuse and natural reinforcers. Theoretical models for the transition from natural reinforcement to addiction Motivational aspects |
Redish |
Review article |
|
6 |
Feb 24 |
Midterm
Discussion |
Test
Panel: addiction beyond drugs |
Panel:
Redish (lead)
Jon Grant
Paul Pentel |
|
Term paper topic apprv'd by 2/27 |
7
|
Mar 3
|
Stimulants
|
Cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, cathinon (Khat)
Mechanism of action; Animal studies Cell & molec events underlying stimulant abuse |
Thomas
Mermelstein
|
|
Distribute papers for discussion on 3/10 |
8 |
Mar 10 |
Discussion
Genetics |
Original article(s) on stimulants
Gender and other genetic factors affecting substance abuse |
Thomas/Mermelstein (1 hr)
Meisel (1 hr) |
1- 2 papers
|
|
Week |
Date |
Title |
Content |
Instructor |
Reading * |
Notes |
9
|
Mar 24 |
Opiates |
Opioid receptor molecular biology, pharmacology; signal transduction; excitatory amino acid model of tolerance therapeutic approaches for dependence |
Wilcox/Fairbanks |
|
Distribute papers for discussion on 3/31 |
10 |
Mar 31
|
Discussion
Cannabinoids |
Original article(s) on opioids
Cannabinoid abuse and medical uses of marihuana |
Wickman (1 hr)
Simone (1 hr) |
1 -2 papers |
|
11 |
Apr 7 |
Nicotine
Depressants |
Mechanism of action; animal and human studies; therapeutic approaches
Alcohol, solvents (inhalants), barbiturates, GHB; mechanism of action |
Mark LeSage checking (1 hr)
Thayer (1 hr) |
|
|
12 |
Apr 14 |
Psychomimetics, hallucinogens |
Mechanism of action; anatomical location of receptors; animal and human studies; therapeutic approaches |
Wessendorf |
|
Distribute papers for 4/21 discussion |
13 |
Apr 21 |
Discussion
Presentation of research papers |
Original paper(s) on above |
Wessendorf
Thayer (1 hr) |
|
Term Papers DUE 4/22 |
|
Apr 24 |
Symposium
1-4 p.m.
Checking on room
|
Neurobiology of Drug Abuse
Marina Picciotto, Yale--Nicotine
Regina Carelli, U. North Carolina--Motive
Charles Chavkin, U. Washington--Stress |
Students invited to lunch with speakers and reception following symposium |
14 |
Apr 28 |
Discuss Symposium
Presentation of research papers |
|
All faculty
|
|
|
15 |
May 5 |
Presentation of research papers |
|
|
|
|
