NATIONAL CENTER FOR CASE STUDY TEACHING IN SCIENCE
Mini Cases in Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects on the Brain Scenario #3
by Darlene A. Mitrano Neuroscience Institute Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Instructions
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
Your friend Jamie has been smoking something in order to lose weight. Jamie tells you that smoking has not only gotten her to stop snacking, but also allows her to concentrate harder when studying, especially for the next Psych exam.
At the same time, this drug relaxes her and gives her a sense of calm. She thinks you should try it out, as it might help with your studying and could even help you take off a couple of pounds.
However, you notice Jamie has an odor about her constantly, and her teeth and nails seem to be yellowing. What has Jamie been smoking?
Case copyright held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Originally published September
“Mini Cases in Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects on the Brain” by Darlene A. Mitrano
