The Basis of Substance Use and Misuse
| From | To | UK Fee * | International Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Sep 2012 | 31 Aug 2013 | £POA | £POA |
* Exceptions may apply. Please see Fees and Finance for further information.
Introduction
This programme has been directly mapped to the relevant Drug nd Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS). If you would like more information as to which standards the course has been mapped to please contact the Programme Leader (see details below).
In order to ensure that applications are processed in time for the start of the course in September applications need to be in by 1st September 2012. If you anticipate difficulties with this you are strongly encouraged to contact the Programme Leader.
The module will cover the historic and contemporary use and misuse of substances by young people and adults. It draws upon the national and international literature, policy and legislation in order to give a wide reaching description of the effects and impact that problem drug and alcohol use can have both for the individual, communities and societies at large and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive basis from which to understand substance use and misuse.
The nature, severity and ramifications of drug and alcohol use can vary markedly but frequently there are physical, psychological, pharmacological, ethical, legal, economic and social factors that need to be considered when forming an understanding of drug and alcohol use.
The module will not only focus on high profile and illegal drugs but will explore the use and misuse of drugs such as tobacco and alcohol; which whilst in many countries are not illegal, still have restrictions applied to their sale, use and availability. The module will also explore the impact of misused 'over the counter' as well as prescription only drugs.
Course Content
Modules include:
- The history to substance use and misuse
- Why people use and misuse substances
- The social and personal impact of substance use and misuse
- Drugs and alcohol as a public health issue
- The media and substance use
- Substance use and mental illness/dual diagnosis
- National Policy
- Community pharmacy and substance use
Entry Requirements
Recruitment onto the course is designed to be flexible and where possible uses previous experience as well as prior learning to enable students to access the course they are most interested in and would meet their needs. As a minimum students need to be able to demonstrate an ability to study at undergraduate Level 2.
Support for students with disabilities
The University of Sunderland is fully committed to principles of Equality and Diversity. We welcome applications from potential students who have or may have a disability and are eager to ensure that all reasonable adjustments and support can be put in place where appropriate.
When you apply for a course at Sunderland you will have the opportunity to disclose that you have a disability, specific learning difficulty or a medical condition. You are not obliged to provide us with this information. However, if you do not, it may mean that we are unable to provide you with the level of support and assistance that you require.
For courses and programmes where no application form is required we recommend that you contact the appropriate Faculty and department to discuss your needs as soon as possible before the start of the course. This will enable the University to work with you to identify any disability-related support needs and to make sure you receive timely advice and guidance about how your needs may be met.
We advise all applicants to make themselves familiar with the demands of a programme, including requirements for field trips, placements, years abroad and teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Fees and Finance
The course consists of one 20 credit module.
The Drug and Alcohol short courses are not covered by government funding such as The Student Loans Company. In the past some students have secured funding from their employer or the only other source of funding known to the University is from The Society for the Study of Addictions. There is no automatic 'entitlement' to this grant and we would advise students to apply early, previous students have been successful with their applications for funding. Applicants can apply for a bursary of up to £750 to cover course fees.
See the link below for further details
http://www.addiction-ssa.org/ssa_13.htm
The University’s Student Financial Advice Team can advise you with regards to funding, payment methods including paying by instalments, they can be contacted on 0191 515 2933 or studentfinancialadvice@sunderland.ac.uk
Teaching and Assessment
The teaching and learning methods for this module will include the following strategies:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Independent study
- Collaborative group work
- E learning platform-Web CT Sunspace
The module is currently assessed by means of a written piece of work on a topic of your choice.
Supplemental Information
The qualification awarded for the short course is a University Certificate.
You might be eligible for course funding, if you are unemployed, or work part-time or are retired. If you are in employment, some employers will pay for you to attend as the course will help with your career development.
The University has a finance team who can help you look into these matters, which can be found on the University of Sunderland website. Alternatively, you can contact The Gateway on 0191 515 2000.
Facilities
*World Class Web/Design Tools*
The University of Sunderland has made a significant investment in providing students with access to the latest releases of Adobe products.
Selected PCs within the St Peter's and Murray Libraries have been pre-loaded with the Creative Suite 4 (CS4) Adobe Design Premium Suite for your exclusive use.
CS4 Creative includes key products such as Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Photoshop and a range of many others.
Further information is available from:
http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativesuite/design/
For information regarding locations of PC or Macs within your own faculty that have access to Adobe products please contact your Faculty IT Support.
If you are interested in purchasing Adobe products for your own PC/Mac Adobe offer significant savings for student purchases via any of its approved re-sellers.
Please visit:
http://www.student-software.co.uk/