Skip to main content
Unit outline_

REHB5069: Rehabilitation of Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Semester 2, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces students to issues relating to a major contemporary social and community health problem; the misuse of alcohol and other addictive drugs - both licit and illicit. Two major areas will be examined: a) issues relating to the development of health promotion and preventative heath policy relating to the abuse of drugs. This will cover current debates relating to harm minimisation and associated legal and ethical considerations regarding illicit substances; and b) an examination and analysis of the varying approaches to treatment and rehabilitation for drug addiction. The unit will introduce students to current debates relating to public health policy approaches to addiction giving due consideration to the complications of illegality. Students will be required to report on the value and effectiveness of current harm minimisation practices; e.g., needle sharing programs, needle injecting facilities, methadone maintenance. Students will be asked to examine and report on the practical effectiveness and moral and ethical considerations surrounding the operation of such programs and possible alternatives. In the second half of the unit students will consider the effectiveness and community acceptance of the various established rehabilitation and treatment programs. This will include research into programs such as Alcoholic and Narcotic Anonymous, Therapeutic Communities, and the range of professionally-based therapeutic counselling approaches. The role of health professionals in these programs will also be examined.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Participation Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
REHB5014 or REHB3064
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jill Clancy, jill.clancy@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment Tutorials
Participation
30% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Short Essay
Written essay
25% Week 07
Due date: 13 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1000 words (+/- 10%)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Major Essay
Written essay
45% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
2000-2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

 
Tutorial participation Weekly online discussions (30%)
Minor essay 1000 words due week 7 (25%)
Major essay 2000-2500 words due week 13 (45%)
   
   

 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Tutorials - no late submissions allowed without Special Consideration. Essays - a late penalty of 5% of total possible marks is taken per day, applied after submitted work is marked.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction to unit; 2. Content and requirements; 3. Module 1 topic Online class (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Introduction to policies: zero tolerance and harm reduction Online class (3 hr) LO1
Week 03 Decriminalisation and legalisation Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 HM approaches: needle syringe programs, methadone maintenance, medically supervised safe injecting centre Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Traditional non-HM approaches i.e. alcoholics and narcotics anonymous, therapeutic communities Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Other non-HM approaches e.g. transactional analysis, cognitive behavioural therapy and others Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Dual diagnosis; mental illness and drug overuse Online class (3 hr) LO3
Week 09 Issues relating to Indigenous group alcohol and drug overuse Online class (3 hr) LO3
Week 10 Adolescents and drug use Online class (3 hr) LO3
Week 11 Issues specific to: women and drug use and adolescents and drug use Online class (3 hr) LO3
Week 12 Drug use/overuse and sports Online class (3 hr) LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This is a distance course with no on campus face-to-face lectures. The unit will be presented entirely on-line with weekly study content and readings. Students will have access to a discussion forum where staff are available for student’s questions and discussion. Discussion with other students is also encouraged on the site. Essays are to be submitted via the Turnitin system.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no required textbook for this unit. There will be some required and recommended reading given each week with lecture notes.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Develop knowledge and understanding of the issues relating to public policy towards the use of illicit substances and overuse of alcohol. Understand the differences between what is referred to as the zero-tolerance policy approach and harm minimisation (or harm reduction) approaches. Understand how these two policies influence approaches to treatment and rehabilitation of substance use especially as it relates to the overuse of illicit drugs and alcohol. Become knowledgeable of the major drug and alcohol services in Australia especially in your local area. Note the differences in approach, practice and philosophy of the programs.
  • LO2. Acquire a practical understanding of the social evolution of social attitudes towards the use of illicit substances and alcohol and other legal substance use and how these have impacted on contemporary rehabilitation of drug addiction services in the broader context of health and community services.
  • LO3. Become informed on the impact drug and alcohol use has on special groups such as women, children, indigenous people including those with mental illnesses and public offenders.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Unit of study updated in line with student feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.