STUDY AT HOME - BIOPSYCHOLOGY
This certificate is designed for people who either want to gain knowledge of biopsychology for further studies or those who already have knowledge of psychology, but are limited in their knowledge of biopsychology. They may be a graduate of another course at certificate, diploma or even degree level.
Accreditation: This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C
The history of drugs is shrouded in the beginnings of the human race. Alcohol was made, drunk, and used to excess as far back as memory and records go. Tobacco (Nicotiana), hemp (Cannabis sativa), opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), and other plants containing drugs have been chewed and smoked almost as long as alcohol, and coffee has been served in the Middle East throughout that area's history.
“Drugs” is a word used by the medical profession to refer to medicines that can cure or arrest disease or alleviate symptoms, ease pain or provide other benefits. Powerful drugs may have side effects, but commonly used drugs with less potential to harm can be sold over the counter. More powerful drugs often require a medical practitioner’s prescription. Another definition of drugs is those substances upon which a person may become dependent. These range from mild stimulants eg. Caffeine, to powerful drugs that alter mood and behaviour. The term “drug” is therefore any substance which is psychoactive – that is, mind altering. Learn more about interactions between our biology, psychology, the brain and chemistry with this unique indepth course.
Modules
Note that each module in the Certificate In Biopsychology is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Opium and Heroin
Opiates were popular throughout the nineteenth century, particularly among women. Tonics containing opium were available from pharmacists and doctors prescribed them for upper and middle class women with “women’s problems”. In the 1850s and 60s, Chinese labourers working on Americarailroads, brought with them the practice of smoking opium. This was banned in 1975, but opium dens were commonplace throughout Americaby the turn of century.
In 1803, Friedrich Sertuerner synthesised morphine and the invention of the hypodermic needle in the mid-nineteenth century led to the use of injectable morphine as a pain reliever in the American Civil War. This led to the first wave of morphine addiction.
In 1896, Heinrich Dreser of the Bayer Company synthesised heroin. Bayer began to market the drug. In the early 1900s, heroin was seen as a solution to the increased problem of morphine addiction and the St. James Society sent free samples of heroin to morphine addicts. Heroin addiction began to grow. Research in 1971 estimated that 10 – 15% of US servicemen in Vietnamwere addicted. This statistic and the growing use of heroin led to the making of heroin use a crime.
In the 1980s and 90s, street heroin was smoked and snorted and its usage increased.
LSD
LSD was discovered accidentally by a Swiss chemist, Dr Albert Hofmann, in 1943. Hofmann provided samples to psychiatrists for further testing and in the 1950s, the USmilitary and CIA researched the use of LSD as a “truth drug”, used to brainwash prisoners or induce them to talk. However, the military interest in the drug began to reduce and the psychiatric community began to research the therapeutic capabilities of the drug for epileptic, psychotic and depressed patients.
In the 1950s and 60s, non-therapeutic use of LSD increased. Research study participants, physicians and psychiatrists distributed the drug amongst their friends. After 1962, LSD was produced and distributed to health professionals on a larger scale. It was not difficult to produce. A black market for LSD emerged. In 1966 the possession and manufacture of LSD was made illegal in America, but illegal manufacturing continued. The use of LSD declined in the 1970s and 80s, but it made a resurgence in the 1990s with the rave subculture.
