Course overview
This course will provide an overview of the current approaches to the management of drug problems in the community, including the pharmacotherapy, population health approaches and the response of the legal system. Special attention is also paid to the future developments in drug treatment. Students will study the full range of treatments for drug problems, from management of overdoses with withdrawal to long term maintenance treatment and relapse prevention. Available pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of drug dependence will be the primary focus. At the community level, students will examine public health and legal responses to drug problems and look at what prevention and education strategies can be implemented to reduce alcohol and other drug problems in society. Students will gain an advanced level of understanding of the approaches to handle addiction. Development of academic writing skills and critical appraisal are goals to increase lifelong learning skills.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand current approaches to treatment of drug problems
- Recognise withdrawal of several drugs and understand the line of treatment of withdrawal, long-term abstinence and maintenance treatment
- Understand the mechanism of drug action of medication and possibilities for future developments
- Collect and synthesise information in relation to problems related to drug use
- Critically evaluate and interpret existing literature
- Understand the central place of evidence based information and that of other information sources
- Write an essay using discipline specific jargon and style
- Collaborate effectively online
- Manage the allocated time effectively in performing tasks
- Display awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues and their importance in the exercise of your professional and student responsibilities