Objectives

• understand a set of fundamentals about neurobiology and how drugs of abuse change the brain
• recognize that drug addiction is a treatable, chronic brain disease
• experience the process of scientific inquiry and develop an enhanced understanding of the nature and methods of science
• appreciate the role of science in society and the relationship between basic science and human health. understand that drug abuse initially is a voluntary behavior
• to define drug addiction as the continued compulsive drug abuse despite known adverse health or social consequences
• understand that drug abuse and addiction are associated with long-term physical and functional changes in the brain
• recognize that addiction is influenced by biological factors (for example, genetics and age) and by the social and behavioral context of drug use.