25 Jan Compare substances within two of the seven drug categories.
There are 7 drug categories – Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, Narcotics, Steroids, Cannabis. Each category impacts brain function and behavior, has particular ways of ingestion, and creates a certain reaction within the body.
Choose two drug categories. For each drug category:
Identify the drugs that belong to that category
Briefly discuss the history of substance use and social response related to the drug category (e.g., how were the substances created, when did people start to use these types of substances, how or in what ways did these substance affect society).
Identify how the drugs are administered (e.g., inhalation, injection, orally, nasally) in this category.
Discuss how substances in the category impact the brain including which neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that are affected.
Explain the physical impact the substances in this category may have on the body.
Compare the similarities and differences between the drug categories.
Explain any differences in treatment approaches for the two different drug categories, and why it is important to understand the different drug categories as a social worker.
Required readings
Capuzzi, D., & Stauffer, M. D. (2020). Foundations of addictions counseling (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter 1, “History and Etiological Models of Addiction” (pp. 2–19)
Berridge, V. (2015). History and its contribution to understanding addiction and society Links to an external site.. Addiction, 110, 23-26.
Courtwright, D. T. (2012). Addiction and the science of history Links to an external site.. Addiction, 107(3), 486–492.
Frank, L. E., & Nagel, S. K. (2017). Addiction and moralization: the role of the underlying model of addiction Links to an external site.. Neuroethics, 10(1), 129-139.
Haldipur, C. V. (2018). Addiction: A brief history of an idea Links to an external site.. Psychological Medicine, 48(8), 1395-1396.
Tallaksen, A. (2017). The narcotic clinic in New Orleans Links to an external site., 1919–21. Addiction, 112(9), 1680-1685.
