BIO 115 - Drugs & Drug Abuse

1 course unit

In this course we will engage in a cross-disciplinary study of pharmacology by appealing to biological, sociological, historical, political, and anthropological points of reference. Our first discussions will center largely on the putative mechanisms by which drugs act in the central nervous system. We will also consider how power may define the representation of drugs in society and the resulting consequences for drug regulation. Additionally, we will discuss the relationship of colonialism to drug history, the social forces governing the perceived “moral” status of drug use, and the emerging ethical issues surrounding drug discovery.
Prerequisite(s): Students who have taken BIO 150 , BIO 151 , or BIO 152 need permission of the instructor to enroll.
Meets general academic requirement S or SC.