Alcohol Pharmacodynamics: Psychological and Cognitive Effects

This course continues our Alcohol Essentials Series, which provides comprehensive education on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and chemical testing of alcohol. The pharmacodynamics portion of the series kicks off with this course, focusing on cognitive and psychological effects.

Participants will explore the ubiquitous nature of alcohol in society, including the effects of alcohol that encourage social drinking. The course covers the dose-dependent effects of alcohol on cognitive performance across a broad range of concentrations. Participants will gain an understanding of how alcohol affects neurotransmitter systems in the brain, such as GABA and glutamate, and how these effects contribute to its cognitive and psychological impacts.

The course highlights studies on memory and attention to illustrate how alcohol impacts cognitive processes. Alcohol myopia is also discussed, along with the effects of alcohol on aggression, goal setting, anxiety, and information processing.

Participants will also explore the relationship between alcohol and crime, particularly drug-facilitated sexual assaults, DUIs, and crimes involving aggression. Real-life examples illustrate how the knowledge from this course can be applied in various contexts.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have a foundational understanding of how alcohol affects cognitive functioning and psychological processes, from low levels of social lubrication to high levels resulting in death or coma. This course is valuable for professionals who need to understand the relationship between alcohol and the mind in various contexts.