This is a course about addiction to drugs and other behaviors. It will describe what happens in the brain and how this information helps us deal with and overcome addiction. It will also discuss other topics such as government policy and our vulnerability to take drugs.
Offered By
Emory University
About this Course
34,711 recent views
Skills you will gain
Prevention ProgramsAddiction TreatmentBrainDrug And Alcohol Abuse Treatment
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
The Background & Overview of Drug Use
In this first week, we'll explore drug abuse, types of addictions, and the behaviors associated with them.
6 videos (Total 36 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Definitions and Terminology7m
The Historical Evidence4m
The Ten Classes of Drugs5m
Drug Use: A Serious Problem5m
Behavioral Addictions5m
5 readings
Instructor Bio & Acknowledgements10m
Recommended Readings40m
Case: A Life on Hold5m
Case: An Ancient Story About a Gambling Addiction5m
Notes10m
1 practice exercise
The Background and Overview of Drug Use20m
Week
22 hours to complete
Drugs & How the Brain Works
In this second week, we'll get a glimpse at why certain drugs are addicting and how they affect different regions of the brain.
6 videos (Total 41 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
6 videos
Detecting Drugs in the Body5m
Synaptic Transmission: The Target of Addicting Drugs9m
Neurotransmitters: The Chemical Messengers in the Brain4m
Cocaine & Nicotine6m
Drugs are Multifunctional8m
3 readings
Case: Cocaine10m
Recommended Readings30m
Notes20m
1 practice exercise
Drugs & How the Brain Works26m
Week
32 hours to complete
Classes of Drugs
In this third week, we'll take a deep dive into the different types of drugs and their individual effects.
7 videos (Total 47 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
Alcohol8m
Nicotine7m
Marijuana4m
Psychostimulants7m
Hallucinogens4m
Opiate Drugs6m
Sedatives, Anti-Anxiety Agents, & Hypnotics6m
4 readings
Case: Veteran with Stress Syndrome5m
Case: Psychedelic Drug5m
Recommended Readings30m
Notes10m
1 practice exercise
Classes of Drugs, Part 128m
Week
42 hours to complete
Classes of Drugs with Animal Models
In this fourth week, we'll take a look at the drug self-administration model in animals and the implications of these results.
8 videos (Total 47 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
8 videos
Caffeine4m
New and Other Substances4m
Review of Ten Classes of Drugs6m
Animals in Drug Addiction Research4m
Animal Model of Drug Self-Administration, Part 19m
Animal Model of Drug Self-Adminstration, Part 24m
Conditioned Place Preference5m
3 readings
Case: The Powerful "Cue"5m
Recommended Readings45m
Notes30m
1 practice exercise
Classes of Drugs, Part 2 & Animal Models22m
4.6
306 Reviews10%
started a new career after completing these courses
Top reviews from The Addicted Brain
I learned a lot from this course that I have been able to use in a ministry capacity. If you are trying to help others with addiction or understand it for yourself, this is the course for you.
This course is truly wonderful, many intellectual mind-opening surprises... for example I almost fell out of my chair when I learned of vaccinations development effort to counter addiction.
Instructor
Michael Kuhar, Ph.D.
ProfessorYerkes/Emory Pharmacology and Neuroscience
About Emory University
Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the world's leading research universities. Its mission is to create, preserve, teach and apply knowledge in the service of humanity.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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