Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Why do people take drugs? Who takes drugs? How is drug use understood within societies? and how do societies respond to drug use? These are just some of the questions that this exciting new third year module will introduce you to as we explore the key debates, theoretical perspectives and differing responses that surround drug misuse. In recent decades drug use has become the subject of both official and media attentions. This module will begin by introducing students to the various ways in which drug use has been understood and responded to. We will begin by tracing the origins of drug use through an examination of how drugs and drug users were perceived during the 19th century to how they have come to be perceived in recent times. This examination will help us to understand the development of policy and, despite the fact that drugs are used across all sections of society, the recent focus on drug using offenders. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach will help us to understand drug misuse in the UK and elsewhere and will enable students to apply sociological, criminological, historical, psychological and cultural perspectives to the study of drug use, and policy responses to this `social problem¿.
Aims
Enable students to apply new and existing subject knowledge and understanding in criminology and related disciplines to the field of drug misuse. This will require students to develop a critical understanding of how drug misuse and its relationship to offending behaviour can be understood. The module also aims to enable students to develop a critical understanding of the different social, political and medical approaches to the treatment of drug misuse and the complexity of challenges facing a wide range of multi-disciplinary agencies (and professionals) tasked with governing drug users and drug using offenders.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/cri-30049/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
Apply existing knowledge of criminology and related disciplines to the field of drug misuse: 1Critically evaluate the key debates surrounding illicit substances and their impact on society: 1Demonstrate critical awareness of how drug misuse is represented in popular discourse relating to crime: 1Critically evaluate the key debates surrounding the links that have been made between drugs and crime: 1Engage critically with the debates surrounding the effectiveness of national and international policies relating to responses to drug misuse, including abstentionist, harm reduction and coercive approaches: 1Demonstrate critical understanding of the range of explanations provided for drug misuse from a multi-disciplinary, global and historical perspective: 1
21 hours contact (10 x lecture, 10 x seminar, 1 x consultation)40 hours tutorial preparation27 hours independent study62 hours assessment preparation
Description of Module Assessment
1: Essay weighted 100%3000 word essayA 3000 word essay from a list of essays provided by the module leader. Essay questions will relate to the first half of the module.