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