What sciences are related to the topic drugs and how to they handle the topic?

[Alfa]

What education / sciences are related to the subject drugs?
And how do these sciences touch the subject?

Which sciences allow projects, studies or dissertations about or closely related to the topic drugs?

Also; If anyone studies a science which is drug related in some way, then please explain how your study has touched the subject of drugs.

[Benga]

swim studied social sciences, specialising in ethnology / social anthropology and ethnomusicology.
the first category touches the subject of drugs through the study of rituals and religion in general, initiation rituals and ceremonies, inebriation, with a special mention to one of the "historical" subject shamanism. Drugs are also part of the picture when trance like states are involved, healing, divination etc... social anthropology has also branched out into ethnobotany, ethnopsychiatry, ethnomedecine where drugs and drug use play a definite role.
before social anthropology, swim had to study sociology, which also deals with subjects such as drug use, from ancient ( for sociology) times, for instance the study of marijuana smokers in the 1960's in "outsiders", by Howard S. Becker, a very popular book with students.
ethnomusicology has a connection through trance states, inebriation, a very good read is Gilbert Rouget's "musique and trance".

many other disciplines in social sciences touch the subject of drugs and drug use such as psychology, art history, litterature, theology etc...

other disciplines swim can think of are ( some more in the medical field ) psychiatry, neurology, forensics, neurosurgery, psychoanalysis, biology, experimental psychology, ethics, law, genetics ( predispositions to addiction theories etc), politics, journalism and media, brainwashing/ coertion, social worker studies, anesthesia and pain relief, hypnotism, mortuary science, toxicology, doping and performance enhancement, military research...

b

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good informative post.

[podge]

Swim studied psychology for a while and that dealt with different drugs and their effects on brain chemistry - it didnt touch apon thought process though which was disappointing.

Swim has friends who do Bio Chemistry - after 2 or 3 years they can specialize, i have heard there are studies on drug synthesis. All legal drugs id imagine but same principles and techniques.

[fnord]

biology chemistry ethnobotony psycho/neropharmacology

[Mint boi]

pharmacology?

[fnord]

botany psychology philosophy medicine zymurgy sp?

[Alfa]

Originally Posted by fnord

biology chemistry ethnobotony psycho/neropharmacology

Originally Posted by mint boi

pharmacology?

Originally Posted by fnord

botany psychology philosophy medicine zymurgy sp?

Please explain yourself. (and use the spell check Fnord ya lazy bum! )
Zymology is the study of fermentation.
Simply stating biology is related to the topic of drugs, is not very exact. Biology has many specializations. Which of those studies touch the subject of drugs and how? The same can be said for other sciences.

[fnord]

well zymurgy being the study of fermentation,theres many drugs that are fermented sinuchi beer meed and a few others i cant think off right now,sorry just woke up! psychology/biology,medicine,, once you understand how the body functions you can better understand the effects it gets from drugs.philosophy/psychology allow one to be better equipped to deal/understand the realizations/effects that someone may feel under the effects of drugs.

[Mint boi]

sorry! Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function!

[fnord]

Originally Posted by mint boi

sorry! Pharmacology is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function!

im not sure who said pharmacology in the first place but id say that still has alot to do with drugs,esp:neropsychopharmacology.can you explain how pharmacology dosent have anything to do with drugs?

[Evil GIR]

I am doing Bsc Hons degree in pharmacology/physiology which is the study of how drugs interact with a living organism as min said. But this also involves how the body get rid of drugs and how different drugs can have a varying degree of effect on the same receptor, as in partial or full antagonist.

[Mint boi]

^^^^^
Just starting my degree in pharmacology!!

[Pino]

Physics, this little baby can stimulate your pleasure centrum directly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcr...ic_stimulation

We only have to wait on simpler, cheaper and more portable models, which is achieved by better materials for supermagnets.

[Mint boi]

Originally Posted by fnord

im not sure who said pharmacology in the first place but id say that still has alot to do with drugs,esp:neropsychopharmacology.can you explain how pharmacology dosent have anything to do with drugs?

oops misunderstanding, i was apologising for not elaborating on how pharmacology is related to drugs! It entirely is! i would argue that it is one of the core drug related areas of science!

[SuprSonik]

SWIM is a Psychology major and many things we study have to do with drugs and other forms of mind alteration.

[darkglobe]

Pharmacology:
The study of Pharmacology touches the topic of drugs because one major factor of drug use is specifically how the substance achieves its effects, how it interacts with the chemicals (eg enzymes/substrates) and cells (eg brain/liver/kidney).

Botany:
Although limited mainly to Cannabis and ethnobotanicals, Botany (which as a reminder is the study of plant life) can sometimes involve the study of drugs.
It tends to be the other way around, though, drug studies involve Botany more than Botany involves drug studies if that makes any sense.

Molecular Biology:
I have limited knowledge of molecular Biology. I've studied it at a basic level (eg gluctose bonding - alpha beta etc and fat, lipid molecules.
The study of molecular Biology is useful for more knowledgeable users (ie those comfortable with advanced level molecular biology) can use it to learn more about drug methods (and this then links in with pharmacology).

Chemistry:
My knowledge of chemistry sucks, but what I do know is that chemistry comes in handy for drug synth/extraction, amongst other things.
For example, molar strengths and other stuff comes in handy for drug synth. But as I said, my chemistry is awful.
The use of polar/non-polar solvents in extractions is based on chemistry knowledge. Also knowing a bit about hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances comes in handy. This again links in with molecular Biology, as routes of administration and stuff depend on some factors which all boil down to certain chemical rules etc. Ok i'll stop there rambling.

That's pretty much all I know enough about to even speculate about, so that's it.

[Euphoric]

"Pseudoscience is any body of knowledge, methodology, belief, or practice that claims to be scientific or is made to appear scientific, but does not adhere to the basic requirements of the scientific method." - Wikipedia

Does anyone know any good books/articles about the pseudoscience of drugs? What would be particularly useful would be if someone could name two books that are primary sources (written at the time of the controversy) about the effects (on the individual and society) of drugs. Drugs that first come to mind that may have primary sources representing both sides are marijuana, LSD and MDMA. But other psychedelics are good too if you know any.

Can anyone recommend anything along these lines? Even if you haven't read them and just know that they are written lets say before 1990, and there's something for each side with contradictory points. I realize that these things are still controversial... so lets say things that were written before they were criminalized. But if you only know post-criminalization then still please share. This would be very helpful. Thanks

[Nagognog2]

Anything written by Sigmund Frued expousing the use of cocaine as a cure for neurosis would be a good jumping-off point (he later changed his tune). And though I'll get jumped on for this - Dr. Timothy Leary's early works on LSD, such as his "The Psychedelic Experience" - which he (loosely) based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

[-Kyuss]

Currently SWIM is reading this book, "Plants, People, And Culture: The Study Of Ethnobotany." Its an interesting read.

[superdupernaut]

Im a chemical engineering student, and my discipline relates to drugs primarily when it comes to synthesis, extraction, and refinement. Particular on a large scale.

The newer disciplines of biological and genetic engineering will likely result in many new production methods, such as transplanting DNA that encodes for drug-producing proteins from a novel, exotic species into one which can easily be grown in mass.

[Alfa]

Please be so kind to post more on that topic. Molecular Cloning & DNAplant modification
Genetic plant modification for production

[Vonn]

I am currently studying my cert 4 in "Alcohol and other Drugs studies" which is not a science I know, but is still relevant (I think) in that you gain:

Comprehensive knowledge about the alcohol and other drugs sector, as well as the provision of AOD programs and services in Australia. You'll also learn how to:

• Work with clients who are intoxicated
• Work with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
• Assess the needs of clients with AOD issues
• Facilitate co-operative behaviour
• Build and maintain strong relationships
• Provide support to clients with mental health and AOD issues

Taken from the course outline.

It is actually quite interesting so far, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to specialise in working closely with people affected by drugs.

Vonn