MODULE DESCRIPTOR

Module Title / Drugs and Society
Module Code / SW2005 (L5) / CREDIT
VALUE / 20 credits
date OF
ApprovAL / 19 June 2015 / VERSION NUMBER / 8
SCHOOL / Social Work, Care and Community / PARTNER INSTITUTION

Relationship with other Modules

Co-requisites / NONE / Pre-requisites / NONE / Excluded Combinations / NONE

Module Aims

This module aims to provide an introductory appreciation of what drugs are and what they do. The module provides an appreciation of the scale and impact of drug use, appraisal of the social and criminal justice policy responses in relation to illicit drug use as well as providing an understanding of theories relating to addiction, and key treatment models operational within services. The module further aims to provide practitioners or those considering practice within a social care setting, some insight into the interconnections that exist in terms of social exclusion, discrimination, health problems and involvement with the criminal justice system for both recreational and more pertinently problematic drug users.

MODULE Content

The course will cover the following subject areas:
•Drug Taxonomy: Identification of and explanations of drug typologies, terminology and classifications
•The pharmacological and phenomenological effects of drugs – An exploration of how drugs work physiologically and the influence of external factors such as set and setting.
•Prevalence and trends of drug use – exploring historical context of drug use and current trends.
•Impact of Drug Use – exploration of crime, disorder, physical and mental health issues.
•Theories and models of drug use – exploring medical, criminological, psychosocial explanations of drug use.
•Drug Policy:
•Abstention to Harm Reduction - historical and contemporary exploration of national and international drugs policies.
•Prevention, education and enforcement strategies.
•The future of abolition - Is the war on drugs lost? – exploring alternative approaches to drug policy.
•Drug Services:
•Treatment models, healthcare and social care
•Working with drug users - Best practice issues
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:
1. / Describe the nature of drug experiences.
2. / Identify aetiology (causes) and epidemiology (demography, prevalence) of drug use.
3. / Assess the extent and impact of drug use within modern society
4. / Identify and evaluate psychological and sociological theories and models of drug use.
5. / Identify and assess service provision for drug users including drug treatment approaches and education.
6. / Evaluate national and international drugs related policies and strategies.
7. / Provide examples of discrimination and social problems experienced by drug users identifying best practice in relation to working with drug users.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The method of assessment for this module has been designed to test all the learning outcomes. Students must demonstrate successful achievement of these learning outcomes to pass the module.
Number of Assessments / Form of Assessment / % weighting / Size of Assessment/Duration/
Wordcount (indicative only) / Category of assessment / Learning Outcomes being assessed
1 / Examination / 40% / 1 hr – Unseen (40%) / Written / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
1 / Media Presentation / 60% / 15 minute (60%) / Practical / 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Module Pass Requirements

Students are required to attempt all parts of the assessment and to achieve a minimum overall average mark of 40%.

appendix

MODULE CODE: Sw2005 (L5) MODULE TITLE: Drugs and society

location of study: Uclan Campus,

Module TUTOR(S) / Mike Blackmon
Module
Delivery / Semester Long / Semester 1 / Semester 2 / Semester 3
Year long / Semester 1 & 2 / x / Semester 2 & 3
Other (please indicate pattern of delivery)

Module Learning Plan

Learning, teaching AND ASSESSMENT Strategy
The module is delivered on-campus and facilitated through blended learning incorporating scheduled teaching and learning activities such as lectures, guest speakers, seminars and independent directed study. All delivered material within the module content is also informed by relevant research.
Scheduled teaching and learning activities are delivered to meet the module learning outcomes, ensuring differentiation to meet the different learning needs of students that will support and stretch different abilities as well as seeking to meet differing learning styles.
Students are required, as part of the module, to participate in group exercises and class discussions. Further to this, students are required to engage in directed study through the use of e-learn resources supporting the teaching and learning activities.
The degree has a strong vocational focus and all modules directly link to the development of employment skills in the social care field. As part of the module students are required to work in teams, engage in group activities and make links to employment in the sector. This module specifically enhances the following employability and graduate skills, discussed in more detail above:
·  Research
·  Ability to work independently
·  Communication
·  Information processing
·  Team working
·  Time management
SCHEDULED LEARNING AND TEACHING ACTIVITY / No of hours
Scheduled learning activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials and field trips. / 40
Worked Based Learning / 20
TOTAL SCHEDULED LEARNING HOURS / 60
GUIDED INDEPENDENT STUDY
·  Developing research and analytical skills through self-directed reading and research
·  Developing self-initiative and time management skills in preparation for meeting assessment deadlines
·  Developing ICT skills through the use of e-learn resources.
·  Directed reading in preparation for scheduled sessions
·  Completion of assessment tasks
·  Revision for the exam
TOTAL GUIDED INDEPENDENT STUDY HOURS / 140
TOTAL STUDENT LEARNING HOURS
These must add up to 200 hours per 20 credits / 200


Bibliography and Learning Support Material

Ashton, R (2002) This is Heroin. London: Sanctuary Publishing.
Bancroft, A (2008) Drugs, Intoxication and Society: Polity Press
Barton, A. (2003) Illicit Drugs - use and control: Abingdon, Routledge.
Bean, P (2004) Drugs and Crime (2nd Edn), Cullumpton, Willan Publishing
Bennett, T and Holloway, K (2005) Understanding drugs, alcohol and crime: Maidenhead, OUP
Coomer, R (ed) (1994) Drugs and Drug Use in Society: A Critical Reader.
Greenwich: University Press.
Coomer, R (ed) (1998) The Control of Drugs and Drug Users. Reading: Harwood Academic.
Coomer, R, McElrath, K, Measham, F, Moore, K (2013) Key Concepts on Drugs and Society: London, Sage.
Gossop, M (2007) Living with Drugs (6ed): Aldershot, Ashgate.
Hanson, G (2008) Drugs and Society (10e): Jones and Bartlett
Hart, C,L (2008) Drugs, Society and Human Behaviour: McGraw-Hill
Hussein Rassool, G (2004) Dual Diagnosis – Substance Misuse and Psychiatric Disorders, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing.
Keene, J (2010) Understanding Drug Misuse: Models of Care and Control. London, Palgrave Macmillan
Levinthal, CF (2009) Drugs, Behaviour and Modern Society (6e) : Harlow, Pearson Education
Lyman, M (2007) Drugs in Society – causes concepts and control: LexisNexis
Manning, P (2007) Drugs and Popular Culture; Drugs, media and identity in contemporary society: Collumpton, Willan
McKeganey, N (2011) Controversies in Drugs Policy and Practice. London, Palgrave MacMillan.
Nutt, D (2012) Drugs without the hot air; minimising the harms of legal and illegal drugs: Cambridge, UIT
Parker, H., Aldridge, J. & Measham, F. (1998) Illegal Leisure: The Normalisation of Adolescent Recreational Drug Use. London: Rider
Peterson, T., and McBride, A. (eds)(2002) Working With Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice: Abingdon, Routledge.
Strang, J & Gossop, M (1994) Heroin Addiction and Drug policy: The British System. Oxford: oxford University Press.
Tyler, A (1995) Street Drugs. London: Hodder and Stoughton
Zinberg, N. (1984) Drug, Set and Setting: the basis for controlled intoxicant use. Yale CT: Yale University Press.
Web based resources:
Drugscope – www.drugscope.org.uk
Home Office Drugs – www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) - www.nta.nhs.uk/