pha4dus fundamentals of drug use in society
FUNDAMENTALS OF DRUG USE IN SOCIETY
PHA4DUS
2019
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Drug use affects almost everybody in society. This blended subject critically appraises harm minimisation approaches and the history of drug use in Australia and internationally from a public health perspective reflecting on how social, economic and political factors and other complexities can affect the role that drugs and drug use can have in contemporary Australia. This subject will explore rates of drug use and harms, drug use as framed in the media and popular culture, drugs and the internet. Public policy responses to drug use will be examined, including prevention, treatment, legal issues and regulation, and policing. Workshops will take these factors into consideration and apply them to the role pharmacists can play in developing harm minimisation models within appropriate ethical and legal frameworks.
SchoolSchool of Molecular Sciences/LIMS
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorPene Wood
Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo
Subject year levelYear Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG
Exchange StudentsNo
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Drug use in Australia: preventing harm | Recommended | Hamilton, M, King, T & Ritter, A (eds) 2004 | Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand |
| Readings | Drug use and Public Health | Recommended | Moore, D., & Dietze, P. (eds) 2008 | Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand |
| Readings | Drug Use in Australian Society 2nd Ed. | Recommended | Lee, N, King, T & Ritter, A (eds) 2017 | Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Apply critical thinking and judgement about how social, economic, regulatory and political factors and policies have shaped the development of drug distribution and use locally and globally.
- Activities:
- Online modules; Case studies
02. Critique public health perspectives on alcohol and other drugs including harm minimisation and health promotion strategies. Assess the specific outcomes of use of these substances and how this may impact a community response.
- Activities:
- Online modules;
03. Analyse the current theories, principles and models of harm minimisation (demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction) with respect to both licit and illicit drugs.
- Activities:
- Online modules;
04. Critically analyse the role of the pharmacist in each of the pillars of harm minimisation (demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction) especially with regard to their role in prevention and consumer education.
- Activities:
- Case studies; online modules;
05. Outline and interpret the law and literature with regard to ethics, privacy, informed consent and service provision in the harm reduction space and investigate strategies to overcome issues in order to deliver optimal patient outcomes.
- Activities:
- Case studies; online modules;
Subject options
Select to view your study options…
Bendigo, 2019, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolmentNo
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorPene Wood
Class requirements
WorkShopWeek: 10 - 22
One 6.0 hours workshop per study period on weekends during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours unscheduled online class per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via online.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice assessment/s (1800 words equivalent) | Online multiple choice assessment/s covering the content from the whole subject | 40 | 01, 03, 04, 05 |
| Essay (1350 words equivalent) | Essay critically analyzing the pharmacists current role and potential role in the future in integrating harm minimization in to pharmacy practice | 30 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 |
| Case studies (1350 words equivalent) | Online case studies relating to ethics, informed consent and privacy within the harm minimisation sphere | 30 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 |