CM2S036 - Contemporary Issues in Substance Misuse 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 2
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | CM2S036 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Contemporary Issues in Substance Misuse | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Policing and Criminology | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Post Compulsory Education | ||
| Module Leader: | Ian McKim | ||
| Module Team: | Marian Buhociu, Sara Davies | ||
| First Intended Intake: | OCT 2015 | Final Year of Intake: | |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 20 | Credit Level: | 5 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 101332 - drug and alcohol studies | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 2 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2021 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2026 |
Module Aims
The overall aim of this module is to introduce students to some of the issues involved in conceptualising and responding to the social problems that substance misuse creates. Specific aims of the module include:
1. To introduce students to issues surrounding types of substances, how these are produced and supplied to consumers.
2. To provide an understanding of reasons why people start, persist and stop using substances (including associated hams), as well as different types and patterns of substance misuse and how these are measured.
3. Identify and evaluate initiatives aimed at tackling the harms associated with substance misuse by the police, the courts, prisons, HM Revenue and Customs and statutory and voluntary treatment services.
Content Summary
This 20 credit module is divided into two parts.
The first part of the course examines types of substance misuse. This includes types of substances, types of substance misuse, patterns and trends, reasons for starting, escalating, continuing and desisting, and the concept of ‘additction’ The first part of the course also examines issues relating to the supply of drugs including retail markets and drug trafficking, as well as media representations of aspects related to substance misuse (e.g. users, addiction, trafficking, treatment).
The second part of the course focuses on the harms associated with substance misuse and responses to them. This includes government policy, policing, the role of the courts and the criminal justice system, and statutory and voluntary drug treatment services, and prevention strategies. This part aims to introduce the most recent developments in the field, including new research agenda and innovative treatment and drug policy initiatives (from the UK and elsewhere).
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 24 |
| Seminar | 24 |
| Independent Study | 72 |
| Directed Study | 72 |
| Formative Assessment - Scheduled | 8 |
| Total Hours Selected | 200 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the causes, characteristics and consequences of substance misuse. |
| LO2 | Demonstrate the ability to describe and evaluate society’s responses to (the problems associated with) substance misuse. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report 1 | A written report subject that draws on knowledge and material from the module or course | 0 | 4000 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Report 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |