This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to contemporary understandings of addiction and drug and alcohol use, from a socio-cultural perspective. It addresses the question of why addiction and drug use have such prominence as medical and social problems in contemporary Western cultures and provides a range of concepts and tools for understanding their significance. The course examines alcohol and drug use as socio-cultural practices which occur within specific social contexts. The course will also investigate the continued debates about 'what' addiction is and what these debates reveal about medical science and conceptions of health. The significance of gender, race, age and class in structuring patterns and experiences of drug use will be explored.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. explain contemporary theories of addiction and drug use from a critical and sociological perspective;
2. analyse drug use as a social practice;
3. interpret and evaluate qualitative data on drug and alcohol use;
4. evaluate different social, legal and medical responses to drug use and addiction; and
5. reflect on their own learning as it relates to the content of the course.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The information provided is a preliminary Class Outline. A finalised version will be available on Wattle and will be accessible after enrolling in this course. All updates, changes and further information will be uploaded on the course Wattle site and will not be updated on Programs and Courses throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Course Convenor.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Sociological approaches to drug use and addiction
2	Intoxication: Pleasure and Risk
3	Gender, Sexuality & Technologies of the Self
4	The Discovery of Addiction: A Disease of the Will
5	Behavioural Addictions (Sexual Compulsion and Excess)
6	Medical Models of Addiction (Brain Disease)
8	Governing Drugs and Drug Users
9	Risk, Public Health & Drug Education
10	Harm Reduction & User Movements
11	Key Concepts Review
12	Open Choice

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Written Paper #1	35 %	2,3
Written Paper #2	35 %	1,3,4,5
Learning Journal	30 %	1,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Written Paper #1

A 1,750 word written paper (includes in-text references, but does not include final reference list). The paper should demonstrate engagement with and understanding of the course material and an awareness of various concepts, theoretical perspectives, and debates. This paper will focus on the content in the first part of the course.

There will be several options for the written paper, finalised in the first weeks of the course.

These options will include an essay (questions will be provided), a glossary entry, a mini ethnography and a media analysis.

Papers will be assessed on the following criteria:

-Focus on question/topic

- Understanding of the topic

- Use of relevant sources and clear engagement with the course material

- Development of argument

- Written expression

-Adherence to conventions of referencing, spelling, grammar etc

Assessment Task 2

Written Paper #2

A 1,750 word written paper (includes in-text references, but does not include final reference list). The paper should demonstrate engagement with and understanding of the course material and an awareness of various concepts, theoretical perspectives, and debates. This paper will focus on the content in the second part of the course.

There will be several options for the written paper, finalised in the first weeks of the course.

These options will include an essay (questions will be provided), a glossary entry, an analysis of addiction discourse and a media analysis. In addition, students are able to develop their own question.

Papers will be assessed on the following criteria:

-Focus on question/topic

- Understanding of the topic

- Use of relevant sources and clear engagement with the course material

- Development of argument

- Written expression

-Adherence to conventions of referencing, spelling, grammar etc

Assessment Task 3

Learning Journal

The point of a learning journal is to encourage students to think about what they are learning while they are learning it, enabling engagement throughout the semester.

Each week you will have the opportunity to submit a 200-word response to the following question:

What is one thing I have learnt from the reading on this topic?

You are required to submit at least eight (8) responses to fulfil the requirements of this assessment (i.e. at the end of the course you should have submitted 8 x 200 word responses, 1600 words in total). If you submit more than 8, your 8 best responses will be included towards your final mark. The deadline for each week is Sunday midnight.

You will receive feedback for submitted journal submissions during the mid-semester break, and then a final grade during the exam period. Learning Journal entries are submitted online through the Wattle. Obviously, you cannot cover a lot of ground in 200 words. That’s why the question asks you to write about one primary observation you wish to make. You have a 10% leeway on length and this will be applied to the whole journal, which should be no more than 1760 in total (excluding headings, references).

In your entries, you do not need to use formal academic language or the sort you would use in an essay. The usual style is more of a discussion point so the writing should highlight an issue you wish to raise and express an informed opinion on as concisely possible. Moreover, the entries are required to be in your own words and should not be representing the thoughts of others as your own. If you include a passage or an idea from an outside source (including websites and blogs) you should mention the name of the source in your response, but full citations are not necessary. Learning Journals will be assessed on evidence of the following criteria:

- thoughtful reflection on the reading/on the class discussion;

- critical thinking;

- demonstration of building on existing knowledge;

- attempts to make connections between different texts and topics;

- regular and timely entries;

- written expression, especially clarity and conciseness.

Typically, better responses will:

- Describe – the concept, point, issue or argument;

- Respond – to the concept, point, issue or argument in a positive, negative, mixed, or questioning way; and

- Connect – the concept, point, issue or argument with another concept or point, either from the text or something else they have studied or thought about, including an earlier journal entry, or a real life experience, or contemporary issue.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

Hardcopy submission must be approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students