DRUG USE AND ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR

PHE3DUB

2019

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject, you are introduced to public health perspectives on alcohol and other drugs. The subject will give you better understanding of harm minimisation and health promotion approaches that are currently practiced and develop your capacity to critique the complexity of health issues in modern society. The subject provides the historical context to addictive behaviours and encourages you to think creatively about difficult issues. Popular myths about drugs and drug use will also be addressed. This subject addresses La Trobe's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Essential, which entails developing ability to tackle problems creatively, generating new ideas and taking calculated risks to create change. < /span>

School: School of Psychology & Public Health

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Peter Higgs

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: PHE3DUA

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource Type	Title	Resource Requirement	Author and Year	Publisher
Readings	Harm reduction in substance use and high-risk behaviour	Recommended	Pates, Richard & Riley, Diane (2012)	John Wiley & Sons
Readings	Drug use in Australia: preventing harm	Recommended	Ritter, A. King, T., Hamilton, M., (ed's) (2013)	OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Readings	Drug and public health: Australian perspective on policy and practice	Recommended	David Moore & Paul Dietze 2008	OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Identify, describe and explain public health perspectives on alcohol and OTHER drugs including harm minimisation and health promotion

Activities:: On-line learning, workshops, assessment tasks.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

02. Review and critique the current theoretical and empirical literature with respect to the harm minimisation of both licit and illicit drugs.

Activities:: On-line learning, workshops, assessment tasks.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. Understand the specific health outcomes associated with the use of licit and illicit drugs, including implications for the development of community-based responses.

Activities:: On-line learning, workshops, assessment tasks
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

04. Examine and critique the social and policy contexts of harm reduction practice employed in Australia.

Activities:: On-line learning, workshops, assessment tasks
Related graduate capabilities and elements:: Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Cultural Literacy); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills); Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

Melbourne, 2019, Semester 2, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Peter Higgs

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.0 hours unscheduled online class per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via blended.

WorkShopWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.0 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	%	ILO*
One commentary piece (1,000-words)		20	01, 02, 03, 04
One essay on a topic of choice (2,000-words)		50	01, 03
One 20-min team oral debate presentation (1,000-words equivalent per student)	2-3 members per group	30	01, 02, 04