Answer Question

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE

Mini Cases in Psychoactive Drugs

and Their Effects on the Brain

Scenario #1

by

Darlene A. Mitrano

Neuroscience Institute

Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA

Instructions

The class will be divided into groups. Each group will be presented with a short scenario describing someone who is

abusing a psychoactive drug. After reading this scenario, you and your group need to do the following:

1. Determine what drug the individual in your case has been using and what led you to believe this.

2. Determine what the subjective effects of the drug are (i.e., what has a person reported feeling after using the drug).

3. Determine what receptors, transporters, or neurotransmitters could be involved and how the drug affects these

receptors, transporters, or neurotransmitters.

4. Create one PowerPoint slide that describes your findings on this drug.

5. You may use your textbook and at least one more source. List these on your PowerPoint slide or on a separate

sheet of paper.

•

You and your roommates have decided to go to a fraternity party on Saturday night. You arrive at the fraternity house

and see another classmate, Jenn, from your psychology class. You go over to say hello and see what she thought of

the first exam, but Jenn seems to be acting very strangely. She starts describing fantastic colors made by the lights and

how the dance floor is a beautiful sea of diamonds. You take a look around and realize the lights are nothing special,

while the floor is definitely made of wood. You take another look at Jenn; her pupils are dilated and she keeps hugging

everyone. When she comes over to hug you and tell you how much she’s missed you since yesterday, you observe that

Jenn is sweating and clenching her teeth. Additionally, you can feel her heartbeat when she makes contact with you.

What drug has Jenn taken?

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