Australia has been famously described as having a 'wet culture', one in which alcohol consumption (and its consequences) have become intertwined into the social and recreational fabric of Australian society and bringing with it a number of serious social and personal consequences. Drug use on the other hand is much less common but no less problematic, accounting for between 20 and 40 percent of crimes committed in Australia. How we respond to these issues remains a matter of significant academic and policy debate - especially for those charged with the responsibility of promoting safety, both on the streets and in the home.
This course examines the social, legal and political responses to alcohol and drug use in contemporary Australian society. Students will explore their own perceptions of the drug-crime relationship and contrast these with the theoretical frameworks that currently exist to guide policy and practice. In particular, this course focuses heavily on current law enforcement and social policy responses to alcohol and drug related crime, examining existing policies and practices such as drug courts, treatment institutions, and early referral into treatment programs.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- source and evaluate information and data about drug use and crime in Australia;
- chart the history of drug policy in Australia and its connection to the development of criminal justice policy;
- apply both theory and research to critically evaluate popular media statements and crime prevention approaches to alcohol and drug-related crime;
- synthesise research findings into a policy proposal at an advanced level; and
- present the outcomes of research in both visual and written formats.
Indicative Assessment
- Wattle quizzes x 2, 10 questions each (5% each for a total of 10%) (10) [LO 1,2,5]
- Media analysis poster, A3 poster and data (20) [LO 1,4,5]
- Wattle quizzes x 2, 10 questions each (5% each for a total of 10%) (10) [LO 1,2,5]
- Media analysis poster, A3 poster and data (20) [LO 1,4,5]
- Major media analysis essay, 4000 words (35) [LO 1,5]
- Synthesis exam, 3 hours, short response and essay, held during the exam period (35) [LO 1,4,5]
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Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 12 hours of tutorials and tutorial-like activities; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
nil
Assumed Knowledge
This course is taught assuming students have some basic knowledge of sociology and criminology.Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $3630 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $5580 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2891 | 22 Feb 2021 | 01 Mar 2021 | 31 Mar 2021 | 28 May 2021 | In Person | View |
