Describes the main brain functions that contribute to addictive behavior. Explains the major ways that addiction changes the brains of addicts. Describes how drugs mimic and alter neurotransmitters which provoke the psychological effects of addiction. Explains the difference between drug dependence, tolerance, and addiction. Describes the clinical consequences of addiction to food, opioids, street drugs, and alcohol. Lists and compare the major treatment options for legal and illegal drug addictions. Describes how the information in this course can be utilized to improve patient care and patient outcomes. Describes, for this course, the implications for dentistry, mental health, and other health professions.

Identifies metabolism and physiology of lipids and carbohydrates in health and disease as well as in the aged individual. Lists the approaches to a patient suffering from metabolic disease from the nursing, pharmacological, psychological, and physical therapy standpoints. Compares and contrast appetite suppressants and other medications that induce weight loss. Discusses the recent discoveries in neurochemistry and neuroscience of the link between behavioral pathology and metabolic disease. Compares and contrast the healthy and the potentially dangerous weight loss strategies and long-term effects of fad diets. Describes the oral health implications of metabolic disease as well as eating disorders. Describes the empiric developments in bariatric treatments, their implications for nursing practice, and behavioral therapies. Lists sources of benecial lipids and carbohydrates and methods of improvement of palatability of the healthier foods. Identifies the role of the oral microbiome, periodontal disease, and S. mutans in appetite pathology, binge eating and obesity.