School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Addiction Studies: Fundamental Concepts
  • Unit Code

    ADS1151
  • Year

    2025
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Michelle LAMBERT

Description

This unit introduces the concepts, models and theories relating to alcohol and other psychoactive drug use. A range of perspectives on drug policy are introduced and contemporary approaches taken by different nations are presented. Students learn about the challenges of implementing harm minimisation policies and explore the patterns, policies and consequences of alcohol and other drug use in Australia. The unit approaches drug use and related experiences and drug-related harm from an evidence-based standpoint and examines the alcohol and other drug landscape from behavioural and health outcomes perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the implications of harm minimisation policy for dealing with alcohol and other drug use problems.
  2. Evaluate the implications Australia’s National Drug Strategy for harm minimisation policies and practice.
  3. Discuss contemporary Australian drug use patterns, harms and laws with diverse audiences.
  4. Apply theories and models of alcohol and other drug use to interpret related behaviours and problems.

Unit Content

  1. Alcohol and other drug use and related harms in Australia.
  2. Dependence and addiction.
  3. Drug types, effects and the law.
  4. Models and theories used in the alcohol and other drugs field.
  5. Demand, supply and harm reduction strategies.
  6. Australian and other national policies on addressing drug-related harm.
  7. Comparative international drug policy and evidence for effectiveness.
  8. Career pathways in the alcohol and other drug use field.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning is highly interactive, with students engaging in discussions and debates with fellow students and lecturers to clarify ideas, explore diverse perspectives, investigate evidence and consider drug policy and practice. Students are encouraged to evaluate the implications of different perspectives to policy and draw on evidence to interpret whether it supports distinct standpoints. They are also encouraged to reflect on personal values and biases in assessments and to apply knowledge to communicate and present ideas to others. Students explore the scope of professional pathways in the alcohol and other drug field through research and reflection on their own preferences. Online students are required to participate in online discussion activities and share insights through live and asynchronous discussions during the semester.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Reflective PracticeAlcohol and other drug patterns and harms25%
PresentationAlcohol and other drug related harm reduction policy35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Reflective PracticeAlcohol and other drug patterns and harms25%
PresentationAlcohol and other drug related harm reduction policy35%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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