This 3-credit course will cover basic concepts associated with the major categories of psychoactive medications (antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotic meds, stimulants and depressants). Knowledge of drug-dosing, therapeutic index, cross-tolerance, substance-abuse, dependence and withdrawal will be covered, as well as drug-seeking behavior and the potential for misuse and abuse of prescriptive and OTC medications. Emphasis will be placed on general principles of pharmacokinetics, including routes of administration, contraindications and mechanism of action.

This course provides comprehensive coverage of issues relating to drug use and abuse in our society. Topics include psychopharmacology, common drugs of abuse (e.g. cocaine, nicotine, alcohol, depressants, hallucinogens, over-the-counter and prescription drugs), and the treatment and prevention of substance abuse. PSY 4510 (or previous knowledge of biology) is helpful but not required. (Fall [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Unless you opt out, this all-inclusive digital textbook is linked to your Canvas course site. Simply click the "Inclusive Access Course Materials" link on Canvas to access your book.

Revel version of
Drugs, Behavior and Modern Society, 9e
Charles F. Levinthal
©2023 | ISBN-13 9780135385968

Objectives: By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

• Understand therapeutic dosing, margins of safety, and drug half-lives.
• Understand drug potency, tolerance, drug efficacy and US drug regulations.
• Be familiar with the receptor systems and possible drug-interactions associated with prescriptive & over-the-counter medications.
• Understand the major classifications of psychoactive medications and clinically relevant prescriptive and non-prescriptive, OTC medications.
• Be able to recognize major side-effects and drug withdrawal effects.
• Identify and understand the mechanism of performance-enhancing drugs and drug testing in sports.

Student Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Objectives (CLO) & Chapter Learning Objectives (LO) will be posted on Canvas.

Course assignments will consist of the following in-class and online material:

Required Readings from Levinthal’s Drugs & Behavior text and other recommended readings from class handouts, discussion posts, quizzes & tests. NOTE: All required assignments & Quizzes are only posted on CANVAS. If you see any shared assignment or quiz within the digital textbook, they are only for your learning purposes. They are not required by me nor graded within the textbook.

Method for Assessing Student Progress & Attainment and Evaluation of Objectives
Grading will be based on Quizzes, Module Tests, Discussion Posts, and the Final Exam.

Criteria for Evaluation of Student Performance/Grading Scheme & Evaluation of Objectives

Grading will be based on a combination of:

1. The average of all Quizzes will constitute 20% of your final grade.
2. The average of Module Tests1&2 will constitute 35% of your final grade.
3. The online Final Exam will be cumulative and will constitute 20% of your final grade.
4. The average of Discussion & Reply Posts will constitute 25% of your final grade.

Extra Credit: see last page of syllabus

Course Letter Grade Values
A = ≥95 B =84-86.9 C =74-76.9 F =<60
A- = 90-94.9 B- =80-83.9 C- = 69-73.9
B+ =87-89.9 C+ =77-79.9 D =60-68.9

Spring 2026 Course Outline: Drugs & Behavior

You will be responsible for reading the entire chapter. The course outline is tentative and may change depending upon school requirements, health crisis, weather issues, or if deemed appropriate by the instructor.

Note: unless otherwise specified, each task is due by the end of that designated week, specifically by each Sunday night, 11:59pm

• All online quizzes will be counted equally, therefore if you miss a quiz and have a valid excuse such as documented illness, religious holiday, previously arranged meeting, you must contact the professor as soon as possible, specifically prior to April 19th, 2026.
• All Module Tests will be counted equally, therefore if you miss a Test and have a valid excuse such as a documented illness, pregnancy, religious holiday, or previously arranged meeting, you must contact the professor as soon as possible.
• If you cannot attend the class due to a religious holiday, pre-arranged job-interview, scientific meeting, or excused absence that falls on the day of a test, it is up to you to contact the professor and arrangements will be worked out accordingly. With prior approval, make-up tests will be given as soon as the instructor deems it possible or at the end of the semester, however keep in mind that the absolute last day for a make-up is April 19, 2026.
• Typically, there are no makeup exams without a doctor’s note and the approval from professor, however extending circumstances may occur during the semester and need to be addressed on an individual basis.
• If you are sick or have an excused absence on a quiz or test day, makeups are only given on or before 4/19/2026. Please contact your professor to make arrangements.
• If you will be out for an extended period of time, please contact your professor and The SUU Health Center.

Note:

• An automatic deduction of 5points/week will be made for any late HW submissions.
• Contact the Professor immediately if you miss a test or quiz.
• With prior permission from the instructor, if you have an excused absence, you may be able to take a make-up test on Apr 19th.
• No more than 2 items or HW tasks can be made-up during the semester.
• See next page for extra credit

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT QUESTIONS

Due: no later than 4/22

You are allowed to submit your answers to a maximum of 3 extra credit questions below.

If you choose to do any of these extra credit questions, they are worth a maximum of 2pts/each, ADDED to your Final Course Grade (i.e. therefore a total of 6 possible points could be added to your final grade if you answer 3 full questions below).

Directions. Upload your answer(s) to Canvas under the Extra Credit Section. In your post, please state the question that you are answering.

Note: On Canvas there are 3 possible upload prompts that can be used for your extra credit answers (labeled as ExtraCredit-1, ExtraCredit-2, ExtraCredit-3). Use one prompt for each question that you would like to submit.

QUESTIONS.

• 1. The brain is the most complex organ of the body. So how can we possibly begin to understand the brain amidst such complexity? Or rather, are our own brains sophisticated enough to understand how our brains work? What creates the intense craving for specific drugs once an individual has been first exposed to them? What could be the various factors that are responsible for the effects of drugs on the mind and the body? [answers can be found in ch03 & ch05]
• 2. By what criteria do we say that a drug is being misused or abused? What types of illicit drugs are most likely to result in an ED visit? Do all drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, LSD, and marijuana result in drug dependence? Why or why not? What are some of the positive effects of marijuana use? What are some of the negative effects of marijuana use? If smoking or vaping marijuana is known to cause significant lung damage but still legalized in some specific states, should marijuana distributors be held accountable or should the responsibility lie with the person using the substance? You may want to compare and contrast some of these points this with nicotine & tobacco companies (i.e., citing the cancer causing effects of nicotine and some legal settlements). Additionally, you may want to consider adding in some literature showing marijuana’s link to schizophrenia and other mental health issues before you formalize your final opinion [answers can be found in ch01 &ch02, ch06 ch07].
• 3. How much alcohol do Americans drink daily? Compare that to how much your friends and family consume. Do you find the studies accurate? Too high? Too low? Explain. Why do you think some people consume alcohol before reporting to work or during the workday? [answers can be found in ch08 & ch09]
• 4. Would the public now associate a valuable medicinal agent or a drug of enhancement with the dark world of doping? Even worse, would some people accuse these companies of developing drugs that could be misused by athletes essentially as a way of enhancing sales? [answers can be found in ch12]
• 5. What are some of the ways people can protect themselves from being drugged while enjoying a night out? How quickly are some of these “club drugs’ absorbed and eliminated? What are some short-and long-term side effects that might be observed with club-drugs? Is there a safe dosage for ‘club-drug’ use? Could modifying specific schedules of administration (e.g., one large dose per day versus three small ones) minimize any adverse effects? [answers can be found in ch13 & from ch14]
• 6. Let’s imagine that you are a hospitalized psychiatric patient, either voluntarily or involuntarily committed to a mental-health facility on the basis of a diagnosis of schizophrenia. You are handed your daily medication that has been prescribed by a staff psychiatrist. There has been a careful diagnosis of your mental illness and a determination that the medication is appropriate and effective in reducing your symptoms. Can you refuse to take it? Do you even have to give a reason for your refusal? If you are asked to participate in a study in which a new experimental drug is being tested against a placebo, should you be required to do so? If you signed an informed-consent form, are you mentally competent to know what you are agreeing to do? If you state that you are mentally competent but have been diagnosed as a schizophrenic, will your self-assessment be considered valid? If you lose your job as a result of testing positive in a drug test, has there been a violation of your right to “due process” as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment? [answers can be found in ch15 & ch16].

Attendance: Please make every effort to log onto CANVAS regularly to see any updates and submit your work in a timely manner. The course CANVAS site keeps track of the amount of time that you actively spend on CANVAS so please make sure that all of your work is your own.

a. Delinquent or complete inactivity on your Canvas course site will be equivalent to unexcused absences and will constitute 10+ pts off from final course grade or an unofficial withdrawal. Please contact me AND the University’s Health Center if you will be out for an extended period of time.

Pre-Requisites: Introductory Psych or equivalent

Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Registration Restriction(s): None

If students are asked to access or need to use the SUU Online Library, please refer to the following Library Link: SUU.edu/IT

General ONLINE Info:

• Students will need Internet access and a PC computer or a Macintosh with the latest version of a web browser.
• CANVAS Learning Management System will be used for all aspects of this course.
  Canvas support for students. Call 435-865-8555 with questions.
• Technology
  For difficulty or trouble-shooting parameters, please feel free to reach out to SUU’s Information Technology (IT) Dept.
  Computer Labs, IT Help Desk, and Usage ST 107 my.suu.edu/help/ & https://labuse.suu.edu/
  Help with computer accounts, passwords, internet access, email, and printing. Computer lab locations and availability.

Each week will begin with a new Announcement posted on Canvas, followed by assigned readings. Students should review & complete the weekly tasks (i.e., discussion posts, pre-recorded Zoom lectures (when available), assignments, quizzes or Module Tests).

Course Credits: 3