Discover How Different Substances Can Affect Our Behaviour
Psychopharmacology is the study of substances and their affects on our nervous systems. Substances can be legal drugs like caffeine in beverages, alcohol, tobacco and prescription or over-the-counter medications. They also include illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines (ice, speed, and the like).
This course covers all sorts of substances and examines their effects on the individual in terms of physical and psychological impacts, as well as their effects on society at large in terms of legal and financial impacts. Find out about the major drug groups and how dependence, tolerance, withdrawal and abuse can influence a user's behaviour. See how mental health disorders and substance use are often interrelated.
What this Course Covers
There are eleven lessons as follows:
1. Introduction: History of use and misuse of drugs
2. Effects of Drugs on the Individual and Society
3. Legally Restricted Drugs - Stimulants and Narcotics
4. Legally Restricted Drugs - Hallucinogens and Marijuana
5. Legally Restricted Drugs - Steroids
6. Legal Drugs - Alcohol
7. Legal Drugs - Tobacco, caffeine and solvents
8. Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs
9. Sedatives and Anti-anxiety Drugs
10. Prescription Drugs for Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders
11. Treatment and Preventative Education
Workload
Study when, where and however much you want. For most students, the course can be completed with a total of around 100 hours of study; and a commitment close to that may be needed to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Extra Reading
The following books, available through this web site are relevant supplementary reading for this course
- The Psychology of Health
- Medicinal Herbs
- Counselling Handbook
- The Brain and Behaviour
Assessment
Self Assessment Tests are presented throughout the course. These are essentially an automated quiz. When you undertake a "SAT" or "Self Assessment Test", you will be able to see what you got correct, and what was incorrect; and in that way, you can identify your weaknesses.
Assignments are given at the end of each lesson. You should complete this assignment, paying careful attention to follow what is asked of you. It can be just as important to learn to work to specification, as it is to learn about the topic you are studying. Graduates who develop a habit of working to specification in the field of counselling, will impress employers, and will be more efficient when self employed.
A Final Exam is offered upon satisfactory completion of all assignments. This is optional. If you choose to apply for and do this exam, you will have the possibility of obtaining a "formal credit" or "Pass Certification" for this course. A fee applies. The exam may be sat under prearranged conditions anywhere in the world. This college will award you a formal transcript, upon successful completion of the exam, as proof of your results.
Recognition and Ethics
This college is a member of the ACS Affiliates Network; a group of colleges from several countries, affiliated with each other through ACS Distance Education.. Courses are developed with input from all of these colleges, aspiring to reflect internationally accepted standards and needs.
A strict "No Plagiarism" and "No fraud" policy exists. Assignments are checked for plagiarism, and assignments will not be deemed to have been completed, if work is not your own original creation, and is found to have been copied from elsewhere. If the person doing the course is discovered to be different to the name enrolled, the enrolment and any results will be recorded as invalid and any fees paid will be forfeited.
Refund Policy
A full refund less expenses (up to 15% of fees applied) is provided to anyone wishing to withdraw from a course, within 2 weeks of enrolment. This does not apply after the first assignment has been submitted and marked; or after the two weeks has expired.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS INSTITUTION?
We believe that we have an ethical responsibility to make good use of the fees you pay and the time you invest into an education through our college. To this end, our first priority is always your learning. This comes before issues such as formal accreditations, speculative marketing and bureaucratic processes which all too often add considerable costs to the running of colleges, and take resources away from the provision of more valuable services to the student.
This college focuses on facilitating your learning and support to optimise that learning. We recognise that learning is all about improving knowledge and skills in your long term memory. While some colleges may focus on getting you to pass exams, by committing knowledge to short term memory; we understand that such an approach is not true education, and does little to improve your long term career or business prospects.
How This Course Could Help You
This course is of value to anyone with an interest in forensic psychology, criminology, or mental health and criminality. Those wishing to work in areas of law, policing, counselling & psychology as well as correctional facilities may wish to use this course to develop their understanding of this field.
Study this course either in isolation or as part of a certificate or higher qualification to enhance your current skills or as a foundation towards further study.