Elizabeth DavisDepartment of PharmacologyMonash University, Australia

Drugs & Societya new introductory

unit in pharmacology

Student cohort

• Science (B.Sc.)• Biomedical Science (B.Biomed.Sci.)• Behavioural Neuroscience (B.BNSc.)• Combined Science Degrees

– Science/Law– Science/Economics– Science/Education

Underlying aims

• emphasize the relevance of pharmacology to everyday life

• highlight controversial issues

• encourage students to appreciate the lack of ‘black & white’

What does the unit involve?

Lectures

Practicals (3 hands-on)

CAL Exercises / Web-based exercise

Assessment tasks (x2)

Lecture topics

• Introduction to Drug Action (6 lectures)• Targets of drug action• Drug-receptor interactions• Principles of neurotransmission • Endogenous mediators• Factors influencing drug action

• Drugs & Society (9 lectures)• Introduction • Foods and beverages as drugs• Herbal medicines• Over the counter medications • Drugs & Allergies • Drugs & Sex• Drugs & Infections• Drugs & cardiovascular disease• Chemicals as toxins

• Drugs of Abuse (9 lectures)• Psychological aspects of drug abuse• Social aspects of drug abuse• Opium & related drugs• Alcohol – the demon drink• Psychotropic drugs• Sedatives & hypnotics• Nicotine & cannabis• Abuse of drugs in sport

• Drug Development (6 lectures)• Serendipity in drug discovery• Drugs from natural sources• Rational drug design• Clinical drug development• Pharmacoeconomics

Assessment tasks

1. DRUGS IN THE MEDIA Assignment

Part 1:• Create a “Drugs in the Media” portfolio

– collect newspaper articles dealing with drug/chemical related issues

Part 2•Analyse one of these articles

– background– how is it reported? Is it accurate?

2. Student Debate

Groups of 4-6 prepare arguments for and against topics

Examples of topics:? Interest group (eg tobacco/alcohol industry)

funding of drug research leads to biased outcomes

? Pharmaceutical companies should be allowed direct-to-consumer marketing

? Roadside sobriety tests should be performed for drugs other than alcohol

? Generic substitution is best for the patient and society

Student FeedbackThe amount of material covered

was reasonable

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Topics were presented in a logical sequence

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The written assignment was relevant to the aims of the unit

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The group debate was relevant to the aims of the unit

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2000 : class of 100 students 66 went on to study pharmacology in 3rd year

2001 : class of 108 students 63 have so far gone on to study pharmacology in 3rd year

Overall, I enjoyed studying Drugs & Society

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Conclusions

Drugs and Society provides an introduction to pharmacology that is of relevance to students with a range of backgrounds and a variety of intended career paths