Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2015 - 2016

Module Title	Drugs in Society
Module Code	NS141
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Mark Philbin	Office Number	H245b
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

In contemporary societies, controversies abound in relation to what counts as proper and improper drug use as well as how drugs should be controlled, regulated, supplied, encouraged and discouraged. Within this module, these controversies are explored through a focus on arguments about alcohol policy, the decriminalisation of some illicit drug use, medicalisation and prescription drugs, and drug-assisted human enhancement.

Learning Outcomes

1. Discuss the value of a 'rational approach' to the evaluation of drug-related harms
2. Appraise the potential for 'responsible drug use' with particular attention to alcohol use in Ireland
3. Explore the idea of addiction and its implications for the identities of people whose lives are structured by problematic drug use
4. Examine the case for the decriminalisation of illicit drug use in Ireland
5. Examine arguments about the uses of medication and how this relates to population health
6. Explore the ethics of drug-assisted human enhancement.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Participation in lecture-discussion
Debate	12	Preparations for participation in seminar series
Seminars	6	Participation in a seminar series of "group arguments"
Tutorial	4	In support of the seminar series
Assignment Completion	12	Preparation of short papers linked to the seminar series
Assignment Completion	30	Preparation of an essay on the possibility of responsible drug use
Independent Study	37	For general reading and use of Loop
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Drug-related harms
With particular reference to the work of David Nutt, we explore the notion of a "rational approach" to the evaluation of drug-related harms and the various related implications for policy and service provision.

Responsibility and recreational drug use
We explore the "responsible use" of recreational drugs. We examine ideas to do with personal responsibility and social responsibility and give particular attention to the example of "responsible drinking".

Addiction and identity
We examine moral, dispositional, medical and sociological accounts of addiction and the varied implications of these accounts for the identities and situations of people whose lives are structured by problematic drug use.

Decriminalisation as an Irish policy option
In the light of a review of Irish policy, we evaluate the case for the decriminalisation of at least some drug use that is currently illegal.

Medication and medicalisation
We examine the role of medication in population health, the rise of "blockbuster drugs" and psychiatric drug prescriptions, the activities of pharmaceutical companies, and relevant arguments to do with medicalisation.

Drugs and human enhancement
We analyse ideas about "becoming more than oneself" through the use of drugs as well as debates about human enhancement in sporting performance, cognitive function, moral development and "cosmetic neurology."

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Goldacre, B.: 2013, Bad Pharma: How medicine is broken, and how we can fix it, Fourth Estate, London,
McKeganey, N.P.: 2011, Controversies in Drugs Policy and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan, Houndmills,
Nutt, D.: 2012, Drugs- Without the Hot Air: Minimizing the harms of legal and illegal drugs, UIT Cambridge, Cambridge,
Babor, T: 2010, Alcohol: No ordinary commodity, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Bean, P.: 2010, Legalising Drugs: Debates and dilemmas, Policy Press, Bristol,
Carnwath, T. & Smith, I.: 2002, Heroin Century, Routledge, London,
Dumit, J.: 2012, Drugs for Life: How pharmaceutical companies define our health, Duke University Press, Durham,
Fleetwood, J.: 2014, Drug Mules: Women in the international cocaine trade, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke,
Harris, J.: 2010, Enhancing Evolution: The ethical case for making better people, Princeton University Press, Princeton,
Healy, D.: 2004, Let Them Eat Prozac, New York University Press, New York,
Healy, D.: 2012, Pharmageddon, University of California, Berkeley,
Karp, D.A.: 2006, Is It Me or My Meds?, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.,
Kramer, P: 1997, Listening to Prozac, Penguin, New York,
Peele, S. & Grant, M.: 2014, Alcohol and Pleasure: A health perspective, Routledge, London,
Pryce, S.: 2012, Fixing Drugs: The politics of drugs prohibition, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke,
Sismondo, S. & Greene, J.A.: 2015, The Pharmaceutical Studies Reader, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester,
Szasz, T.: 1996, Our right to drugs, Syracuse Unversity Press, Syracuse,
Whitaker, R.: 2010, Anatomy of an Epidemic, Crown, New York,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

BHS	Bachelor of Science in Health & Society
BPY	BSc (Honours) in Psychology
BSSA	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
BSSAO	Study Abroad (DCU Business School)
ECSA	Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
ECSAO	Study Abroad (Engineering & Computing)
HMSA	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
HMSAO	Study Abroad (Humanities & Soc Science)
SHSA	Study Abroad (Science & Health)
SHSAO	Study Abroad (Science & Health)

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