POPLHLTH 773 : Pharmacotherapeutic Responses to Addiction

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Provides an advanced overview of the pharmacological management of alcohol and drug problems, including overdose and withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, opioids, cannabis and stimulants as well as the long term management of dependence on opioids, tobacco, and alcohol. Management within special groups and conditions (youth, pregnancy, co-existing) will be covered.

Course Overview

The course aims to provide an advanced understanding of the pharmacological management of alcohol and drug dependence, overdose and withdrawal. Students will be able to apply this understanding to specific case based situations.

This course can be taken as part of the Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences specialising in Alcohol and Drug Studies, or The Master in Health Practice in Addiction. It will be assumed that students will be working clinically with clients in mental health and/or addiction contexts. The course POPLHLTH 738: Biology of Addiction is highly recommended as a pre- or co-requisite, but Is not mandatory. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the pharmacological management of overdose and withdrawal for the main drugs of abuse. (Capability 1.1, 2.2 and 3.2)
  2. Interrogate the rationale for using certain pharmacotherapies, in particular the evidential base for the maintenance treatment of dependence. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 2.2)
  3. Evaluate the unique needs, with respect to drug treatment, of certain groups and conditions, such as youth, pregnancy and co-existing psychiatric and physical disorders. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Identify and articulate the principles of case management. (Capability 1.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 6.1)
  5. Apply this knowledge to case based scenarios/case studies. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Discussions 20% Individual Coursework
Case Studies 30% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Discussions
Case Studies
Final Exam

Learning Resources

This 15 point course is delivered via four block teaching days, located at the Grafton Campus. Classes are small and opportunities exist for students to interact to enhance learning. All supporting material will be available online, including lectures and most reading material. Some assessment tasks will be undertaken online. Therefore it is essential that students have ready access to a personal computer that will enable them to access the Universities Learning Management system. Teaching assumes a large component of self-directed learning, and it is expected that students will seek out information in addition to that presented to them in the form of readings. For each topic a series of revision questions will be made available.
Between the campus days students are expected to access their course information on CANVAS and receive all information via their University email. 

Course Contacts

Assoc Prof. David Newcombe
School of Population Health 
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland
Tel: (09) 923 6557
Mobile: 021-2953851
Email: d.newcombe@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

Overall, a 15 point postgraduate course is estimated to require 10 hours a week over a 12 week semester, including campus attendance, reading, assignments, study and exams.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.