Understanding Substance Use

The Understanding Substance Use module (CDAS11005) explores fundamental issues and concepts in the field of drug and alcohol studies.  This module introduces the subject area by exploring a broad historical perspective on the prevalence of substance use.

We will then offer definitions and effects of psychoactive substances and critically explore health and social consequences of use.  Concepts of addiction and dependence are considered from a range of perspectives and disciplines.

The module examines patterns of substance use across local, national and international units of analysis.  This develops to consider differentiated patterns and consequences of consumption across gender, age, class and ethnicity.

Students critically assess theoretical perspectives on substance use from a range of disciplines including biology, psychology, criminology and sociology using a range of data sources.

This module introduces students to key concepts and historical information that will facilitate a contemporary understanding of how substance use is understood.

This module provides subject specialist knowledge and is a required module for both the MSc and the Pg Certificate.

Topics include:

• Historical understanding of substance use, and the emergence of the concepts of addiction and dependence.
• Definitions and effects of psychoactive substances.
• Socio demographic patterns of consumption within populations, from an international perspective.
• Consequences of substance use for individuals, families, communities, and the state.
• Multi-disciplinary understanding of how substance use is understood from a range of theoretical perspectives including, biology, psychology, criminology and sociology.

At the end of this module the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of how substance use and problems are understood from a range of perspectives.
• Critically understand the prevalence of substance use.
• Critically appreciate the effects of substance use on individuals, families, communities and the State.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of how theories of addiction and dependence impact on understanding substance use and problems.

This is an SCQF Level 11 module and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits.

 

Delivery 

This module will be delivered online with face-to-face learning.  To be confirmed.

 

Course presenter

This module will be delivered by April Shaw.

 

Funding

This course may be available on a fully funded basis to some delegates.  Further details, including regarding eligibility, are available under Funding Support.

If you have any questions, please contact us at cpd@uws.ac.uk 

 

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further enrolment information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.  

 

PgDip Contemporary Drug & Alcohol Studies (CDAS)

In addition to being available on a CPD basis, this module is part of our PgDip Contemporary Drug & Alcohol Studies.

Modules available through the UWS CPD Centre include:

• Understanding Substance Use
• Contemporary Responses to Substance Use
• The Politics of Drug & Alcohol Policy

For further information, please contact ask@uws.ac.uk