Overview
Psychoactive drug use in our society challenges all of us. This unit analyses individual and societal attitudes to psychoactive drug use by exploring the history of its use, drug policy, public health responses and current media issues. It examines why people use psychoactive drugs and the harms associated with drug use in some people in some circumstances and what can be done to minimise that harm.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student
Would be useful to include some short recorded lectures on key topics.
Review the '3 minute Moodle' topics and extend beyond 3 minutes if appropriate, and/or develop short lectures on key topics.
- Analyse individual and societal attitudes to psychoactive drug use, exploring historical, political, public health and media responses
- Examine why people use psychoactive drugs and identify the harms associated with drug use for some people in some circumstances
- Evaluate strategies to minimise the harm that may be associated with psychoactive drug use
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Drug Use in Australian Society
Edition: Second (2017)
Authors: Ritter, King and Lee
Oxford
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9780190306458
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
The prescribed textbook can be accessed online at the CQUniversity Library website. Access may be limited, so if you prefer your own copy, you can purchase either paper or eBook versions at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.omullan@cqu.edu.au
h.fox@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to 'Drugs and Society"
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please read the unit profile, and ensure you understand the assessment details.
Introduce yourself to others on the 'General Discussion' forum.
Watch and read the content for Week 1.
You may wish to add a posting on the discussion forum for this week (remember, it is compulsory for you to show evidence of participation in the discussion forums in your portfolios).
Module/Topic
The Context of Drug Use.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 2.
You may wish to add a posting on the discussion forums for this week.
Module/Topic
Why do people use drugs?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 3.
Read forum discussions. You may wish to add a posting on the discussion forums for this week.
Begin draft for Assessment 1 and continue to research.
Module/Topic
Why do people use drugs (contd.)?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 4
Continue to work on the first draft of Assessment 1. Check or participate in forum discussions.
Module/Topic
Recreational drugs and their effects.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read content for Week 5
Continue to work on Assessment 1.
Check or participate in the forum discussions. Remember, it is compulsory for you to show evidence of participation in the discussion forum in your portfolios!
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Concepts of dependence.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 6.
Polish and proofread Assessment 1. Check or participate in the Discussion forum.
Submit Assessment 1 (Monday 17th April 2023).
Learning Portfolio 1 Due: Week 6 Monday (17 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Drug use in special groups.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 7.
Read or participate in the forum discussions.
Module/Topic
Drug use in special groups (continued).
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 8.
Begin research for the Assessment 2 portfolio.
Check or participate in forum discussions.
Module/Topic
Societal responses to drug use.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 9.
Check or participate in the discussion forums. Remember, you will need to show evidence of participation in the discussion forum in your portfolios!
Continue research for Assessment 2.
Module/Topic
Interventions in drug use.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 10.
Check or participate in the discussion forums.
Write a first draft of Assessment 2.
Module/Topic
Interventions in drug use (continued).
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 11.
Continue draft of Assessment 2, polish and proofread. Add contributions to discussion forums.
Module/Topic
Review and Recap.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Watch and read the content for Week 12.
Check or participate in the discussion forums.
Finalise Assessment 2.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Submit assessment 2 (Monday 5th June 2023).
Learning Portfolio 2 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (5 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Learning Portfolio 1 is worth 40%
Learning Portfolio 1 is designed for you to provide evidence of your learning in relation to Learning Outcome 1.
Task description: Complete a Learning Portfolio in TWO parts in relation to Learning Outcome 1.
Word count - 2000 - 2500 (excluding references).
Part 1
Analyse societal attitudes to psychoactive drug use, exploring historical and/or political, and/or public health and/or media responses.
You may like to include any of the following types of evidence in your portfolio:
- A 2023 article from a newspaper, magazine or the internet;
- An advertisement for a recreational drug (you are most likely to find one advertising alcohol);
- A television program, movie or Youtube clip;
- An analysis of the influence of community attitudes on the development of legislation and policy in relation to drug use;
- An analysis of the history of recreational drug use and the impact of this on contemporary societal attitudes.
Part Two
Analyse your own individual attitudes to recreational drug use.
You may like to include any of the following types of evidence in your portfolio (NB: These are ideas to guide you and are not compulsory):
- Your own past history in relation to recreational drug use and a reflection on this history;
- A comparison of your own attitudes to drug use with societal attitudes and a reflection on why differences or similarities are present;
- A reflection on the changes (or lack of change) occurring as a result of undertaking study (either generally or specifically in this course);
- A reflection of a past interaction with a drug user or a situation involving drug use that had a significant impact on your attitudes to drug use.
NOTE
Examples of learning portfolios from previous years and a list of Frequently Asked Questions about portfolios will be available on Moodle to guide you in the preparation of this assessment.
Week 6 Monday (17 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
AEST
Two weeks after submission.
Students will be allocated marks based on the following criteria.
Organisation and Presentation (10%)
- structure and flow of information
- coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
- style and formatting of the report
- length
Referencing (10%)
- Referencing is consistent and accurate in accordance with Harvard or APA style
Synthesis and integration of literature and other evidence (10%)
- High-quality literature and other evidence synthesised and integrated (quality)
- Discerning and relevant use of literature or other evidence
Analysis and critical thinking (10%)
- Extensive and high-level analysis and critical thinking
Understanding of contemporary drug use (30%).
- Ethical and legal debates and/or
- Legalisation and/or
- Harm minimisation and/or societal attitudes
Reflections on individual attitudes (20%)
- High-level reflection
- Relevance to learning
Integration of 4 Forum Postings (2 from others, 2 of your own) (10%)
- Interest and depth
- Relevant to discussion
- Analyse individual and societal attitudes to psychoactive drug use, exploring historical, political, public health and media responses
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Learning Portfolio 2 is worth 60%
Word count 2500 - 3000 words (excluding references).
Provide evidence of your learning in relation to Learning Outcomes 2 and 3.
Part One
Examine why people use psychoactive drugs and identify the harms associated with drug use for some people in some circumstances.
To address this learning outcome you may wish to examine a particular group. Groups that you may find interesting to study could include one of the following:
• Injecting drug users
• Prisoners
• Women
• Teenagers
• Men
• Indigenous Australians
• Consumers with a mental illness
• The elderly
• Health professionals
• Amphetamine users
• Party drug users
• Gay and/or lesbian groups
• Truck drivers
(Note for the purpose of providing evidence, you will find it more effective to focus on ONE group only).
You may like to include any of the following in your submission:
• An analysis of the literature on your chosen group.
• An interview with a drug user from your chosen group (if you choose to include this, please discuss suitability with the unit coordinator first). You will need to compare your interviewee’s responses with relevant literature.
• An interview with an agency that deals with your chosen group (you will need to compare your interviewee’s responses with relevant literature)
Part Two
Evaluate strategies to minimise the harm that may be associated with psychoactive drug use in a particular group.
You may like to undertake one of the following for your submission:
• Evaluation of a current harm minimisation strategy. Evaluate how closely the strategy meets the principles of harm minimisation and its effectiveness in preventing harm for your chosen group.
• A historical analysis of harm minimisation policies including an evaluation of the benefits of harm minimisation over this period of time and the challenges it has brought to the community.
• Evaluation of a current intervention strategy (e.g. methadone program). Evaluate how closely it meets the principles of harm minimisation and its effectiveness in preventing harm.
• Choose a treatment agency and explore their approaches. Evaluate how closely it meets the principles of harm minimisation and its effectiveness in preventing harm.
Review/Exam Week Monday (5 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
AEST
Two weeks after submission
Students will be allocated marks based on the following criteria.
Organisation and Presentation (10%)
- structure and flow of information
- coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
- style and formatting of report
- length
Referencing (10%)
- Referencing is consistent and accurate in accordance with Harvard or APA style
Synthesis and integration of literature and other evidence (10%)
- High quality literature and other evidence synthesised and integrated (quality)
- Discerning and relevant use of literature or other evidence
Analysis and critical thinking (10%)
- Extensive and high-level analysis and critical thinking
Understanding of contemporary drug use issues (15%).
- Ethical and legal debates and/or
- Legalisation and/or
- Harm minimisation and/or societal attitudes
Understanding of harms and issues for chosen target group (15%)
- High level of understanding of harms for the chosen group
Evaluation of appropriate strategy (20%)
- Relevant strategy chosen
- Highly effective evaluation of strategy
Integration of 2 Forum Postings (10%)
- Interest and depth
- Relevant to discussion
- Examine why people use psychoactive drugs and identify the harms associated with drug use for some people in some circumstances
- Evaluate strategies to minimise the harm that may be associated with psychoactive drug use
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
