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: Psychoactive Drugs
  • Unit Code

    ADS1252
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Stephen Jason BRIGHT

Description

This unit focuses on psychoactive drugs. Students learn about the prevalence of use, historical perspectives, laws, and the short and long term effects of psychoactive drug use. The harms associated with drug use are discussed and interventions to minimise harm are examined. Students learn key concepts about psychopharmacology and evaluate evidence-based interventions informed by the National Drug Strategy.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed ADS1151.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply models of psychopharmacology to assess the effects of psychoactive substances.
  2. Critically evaluate the harms and benefits of key psychoactive substances.
  3. Describe interventions underpinned by the National Drug Strategy that minimise drug-related harms.

Unit Content

  1. Models of psychopharmacology.
  2. Types, uses and effects of selected psychoactive drugs.
  3. The public health/interaction model as it applies to specific drugs and cultures.
  4. Drug use and drug-related problems in Australia.
  5. Strategic and practical responses to drug-related harm.

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 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

Seminars are highly interactive and contain a range of practical small group activities in which students discuss contemporary and controversial issues surrounding psychoactive substances. Online students are required to participate in collaborative discussion activities during specific weeks. Students learn how to access and use a variety of digital learning materials to prepare for and engage in discussions about case studies that aim to challenge preconceived ideas about drug-related harms. Students are tested on their knowledge of key psychopharmacology concepts and evidence-based interventions. Students complete an essay about the potential harms and benefits of different drugs, developing skills in critical thinking and the formulation of arguments that are logical and grounded in the evidence-base.

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
TestFundamental concepts and psychoactive drugs20%
EssayPsychoactive drug investigation40%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestFundamental concepts and psychoactive drugs20%
EssayPsychoactive drug investigation40%
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.

ADS1252|2|1

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: Psychoactive Drugs
  • Unit Code

    ADS1252
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Stephen Jason BRIGHT

Description

This unit focuses on psychoactive drugs. Students learn about the prevalence of use, historical perspectives, laws, and the short and long term effects of psychoactive drug use. The harms associated with drug use are discussed and interventions to minimise harm are examined. Students learn key concepts about psychopharmacology and evaluate evidence-based interventions informed by the National Drug Strategy.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed ADS1151.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Apply models of psychopharmacology to assess the effects of psychoactive substances.
  2. Critically evaluate the harms and benefits of key psychoactive substances.
  3. Describe interventions underpinned by the National Drug Strategy that minimise drug-related harms.

Unit Content

  1. Models of psychopharmacology.
  2. Types, uses and effects of selected psychoactive drugs.
  3. The public health/interaction model as it applies to specific drugs and cultures.
  4. Drug use and drug-related problems in Australia.
  5. Strategic and practical responses to drug-related harm.

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 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

Seminars are highly interactive and contain a range of practical small group activities in which students discuss contemporary and controversial issues surrounding psychoactive substances. Online students are required to participate in collaborative discussion activities during specific weeks. Students learn how to access and use a variety of digital learning materials to prepare for and engage in discussions about case studies that aim to challenge preconceived ideas about drug-related harms. Students are tested on their knowledge of key psychopharmacology concepts and evidence-based interventions. Students complete an essay about the potential harms and benefits of different drugs, developing skills in critical thinking and the formulation of arguments that are logical and grounded in the evidence-base.

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
TestFundamental concepts and psychoactive drugs20%
EssayPsychoactive drug investigation40%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestFundamental concepts and psychoactive drugs20%
EssayPsychoactive drug investigation40%
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.

ADS1252|2|2