ASA 260 - Pharmacology and Chemical Dependency

This 5 week module will cover content required for the Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) credentialing process. It will provide an introduction to the basic pharmacology of psychoactive drugs, with special attention to drugs with addictive potential. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic basis of drug action will be introduced and explored. The basic structure of the Central Nervous System (CNS) will be reviewed along with neurotransmitter function and dysfunction. The pharmacology of sedative-hypnotic drugs, stimulants, analgesics, and drugs used to treat psychological disorders will be explored in detail with regards to their pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacological attributes.

Prerequisite- Corequisite
Prerequisite: ASA 110 Introduction to Chemical Dependency Studies, ASA 210 Chemical Dependency I or permission of instructor

Credits: 1
Hours
1 Lecture Hour
Course Profile
Learning Outcomes of the Course:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacokinetic processes.
Apply the concepts of half-life, drug accumulation, efficacy, potency, and tolerance.
Describe basic neuroanatomy with special attention to the neuron, receptors, and the synaptic cleft.
Describe the major groups of neurotransmitters important in the action of psychoactive substances.

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