Scuola di Studi Superiori "Ferdinando Rossi" dell'Università degli Studi di Torino - SSST

The main objective of the course is to offer elements of general and specific knowledge, allowing the students to use various interpretation keys to develop a critical approach toward the complex and widespread phenomenon of the psychoactive substances intake. Psychological, neuro-biological, clinical, chemical and pharmacological traits will be presented together with the historical, anthropological and cultural aspects traditionally connected to the psychoactive substances consumption. 

The students will be able to contextualize the theme of psychoactive substances consumption under the various aspects and motivations underlying it historically, both in the past and the present. The students will become aware of the interconnections existing between these motivations and their exploitation by third parties for illicit purposes, economic, political, of submission, and control, both personal and social.

All lessons and seminars will be conducted orally in person. To the presentation of lesson's themes, carried out by the professor, will follow a wide discussion involving the students, so as to create a critical awareness about them, from the comparison of the different viewpoints.

The students will develop a specific topic pertinent to the course and will present it to an audience of interested professors and students.

Supporting and supplementary learning material will be provided by the tutors on specific themes and requests made by the students.

Introductory remarks ( 1 hour)

The complex and multifaceted nature of the features involved in the psychoactive substances consumption will be evidenced, in contrast with the prejudices and oversimplified assumptions frequently evoked toward this theme. The students will be asked to express their perceptions about this subject.

Module 1 - 1) The analytical determination supporting the diagnosis of drug abuse
2) Organization of antidoping controls in sport practice

Teaching staff : Prof. Alberto Salomone

The main challenges and issues to detect the presence of psychoactive and pharmacological drugs in biological matrices will be discussed. Only a proper collection of samples, a sound analytical approach and a balanced interpretation of the results shall lead the stakeholders to a correct diagnosis of active use of substances and doping agents

Module 2 - Botanical varieties and cropping systems for the plant-related production of natural psychoactive substances

Teaching staff : Prof. Amedeo Reyneri

The main aspects of the cropping system of the main raw materials from which the psychoactive substances are derived will be briefly presented. The production of coca (Erythroxylum coca), opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and Cannabis will be considered highlighting the environmental and ecological conditions, cultivation and conservation /first processing techniques. The genetic and technical transformations recently introduced, that have influenced the properties of these raw materials, will be highlighted.

Modulo 3 - Pharmacological activity of the drugs of abuse and neuronal circuits controlling their compulsive craving

Teaching staff : Prof.ssa Carola Eva

The module aims to analyze the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie drug seeking behaviors. The neurotransmitter and neuropeptidergic systems involved, the positive reinforcing effects of the different substances and their pharmacokinetics, and the molecular mechanisms involved in addiction and withdrawal will be described. Other substance-independent variables playing a role in compulsive drug-seeking behavior will also be discussed. Lastly, the pharmacological effects and toxicity of various substances of abuse, including ethanol, will be analyzed.

Module 4 - Psychological and behavioral aspects, neuro-biology and neuro-ethics in the psychoactive substances consumption

Teaching staff: Dott. Augusto Consoli

The program will investigate, by means of classroom-taught lessons and collective evaluations, some relevant themes including:
• Consumption profiles & use purposes
• Motivational aspects relative to the different consumption patterns
• Self-induced dissociative processes
• The neurobiology role in consumption and addiction toward substances and behaviors
• Neuro-ethical aspects of addiction
• Therapeutic and rehabilitation strategies
Supporting scientific articles and bibliographic references will be provided on the various themes of interest.

Module 5 - 1) The consumption of psychoactive substances within the different social contexts.
2) Evolution of the intervention policies between prejudice and rationality

Teaching staff: Prof. Franco Prina

The sociological approach to the consumption of psychoactive substances: definitions and categories; research methods on the phenomenon.
Contexts and forms of consumption. Social factors favoring consumption and addictions.
Transfer from the phenomenon interpretation and its determinants to the norms and policies in the field. The debate on intervention scenarios between prejudices and rationality: prohibitionism, "soft" prohibitionism (and harm reduction), legalization, liberalization.

Module 6 - Use of psychotropic substances in ritual and religious contexts

Teaching staff: Prof. Alberto Pellissero

An overview on the use of psychotropic substances within the historical and religious contexts of traditional India will be presented. The inherent themes and problems will be discussed.

Module 7 - Shamanism: the reasons why shamans may take psychoactive substances

Teaching staff: Prof.ssa Lia Zola

The program aims at taking into account the issue of psychotropic substances from a cultural viewpoint, exemplified within the framework of shamanism.
In a number of societies where shamanism is still alive, the shaman inhales, smokes or uses psychotropic substances to get in touch with the invisible realm. What sometimes has been interpreted as a form of addiction, is instead the result of a progressive and complex process of education to shamanism, underwent by the shamans-to-be. The program will try to shed light on issues such as addiction in a cultural approach.

Module 8 - Drugs of abuse and narco-mafias: historical evolution and law framework

Teaching staff: Dott. Onelio Dodero

According to the 2022 UNODC (United Nation Office of Drugs and Crime) report, in 2020 “an estimated 284a million people worldwide aged 15–64, majority of whom were men, had used a drug within the last 12 months”.
"Our thing is money". Who utters these words is not the president of a hedge fund, but a boss of the Primeiro Comando da Capital, the largest mafia in Brazil.
The deal of the century is served. And it is managed by the c.o.: 'ndrangheta; camorra; Cosa Nostra. Broadly speaking, its history will be retraced.
Drug trafficking will be treated according to historical and geographical evolution, following the routes traveled first by Cosa Nostra and then by the 'Ndrangheta to enter into relations with drug traffickers of the producing countries, weave agreements, monopolize the drug distribution sector.
"Narcomafias", therefore, which now reproduce the functioning of a multinational: economic model, management, marketing, hierarchy... While maintaining their trademark: violence and settling accounts.

Seminar a (1 hour) - Phàrmaka in the Odyssey: medicine, folklore and magic

Teaching staff: Dott.ssa Elisabetta Pitotto

The Odyssey scenes are examined attesting the use of psychoactive herbs such as lotus, moly and nepenthe: aim of the seminar is to highlight their psychotropic effect and to set their Homeric use within the medical and folkloric background of ancient Greece.

Seminar b (1 hour) - Psychotropic travels: tours and destinations of the narcoturism

Teaching staff: Prof.ssa Laura Bonato

An account of narcoturism will be given, which is a strongly growing type of tourism whose practitioners travel to buy or consume narcotics but also to participate in parties and events dedicated to soft drugs and which have become a tourist attraction in recent years, registering large flows of participants. But is a person who chooses a location for these purposes really a tourist?

Seminar c (1 hour) - The Police-Interpol international cooperation in fight against the drugs-of-abuse trafficking

Teaching staff: Dott. Maurizio Brutti

Trends, modus operandi of international organized crime operating in the drug trafficking (routes, hiding places for drugs), investigative/ operational techniques to fight the business.
Importance of the international Police cooperation; Presentation and functions of INTERPOL, the most widespread International Police Organization (methodology, tools, projects).

Seminar d (1 hour) - Opium wars and global challenges

Teaching staff: Prof. Lorenzo Kamel

Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain after the First Opium War of 1839-1842, an act of military aggression carried out by British authorities against China due to the emperor’s decision to make opium illegal and tighten prohibitions on drug use. Through case studies such as the one of Hong Kong, the seminar will shed light on the continuing reverberations of the opium wars on a few strategic areas in Asia.

Round table (1 hour) - Repression, support policies, risk reduction strategies: which guidelines for the future?

Teaching staff: Prof. Marco Vincenti, Prof Alberto Salomone, further interested tutors

The consumption of psychoactive and/ or doping substances is a widespread phenomenon which is often represented in superficial and paternalistic terms, despite it shows aspects of significant complexity, with effects on the citizens health and safety. How should this complexity be faced? The debate is open between students and tutors.