PSYCHIAT 766 : Youth Addiction and Co-existing Problems

Medical and Health Sciences

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An overview of key principles required to manage alcohol and drug problems within a Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) context. Includes a range of topics including aspects of screening, assessment and brief interventions, harm reduction, an introduction to motivational interviewing, and CBT in addiction treatment.

Course Overview

This course will provide clinicians working in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), youth addiction, youth health and related settings with practical clinical knowledge about addictive behaviours among young people and its relationship to their cognitive and socio-emotional functioning and mental health outcomes . The course has an emphasis on supporting clinicians to apply this knowledge to their current practice and transferring established clinical skills towards management of addictions with co-existing problems in young people. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Maisie Liu: Phone: +64 9 923 2177 | Email: ying.liu@auckland.ac.nz
ICAMH Administrator

Dr Ryan San Diego: +64 273565788 | Email: r.sandiego@auckland.ac.nz
Course Coordinator | Registered Psychologist

Vas Ajello: Mobile: +64 21 991 828 | Email: v.ajello@auckland.ac.nz
ICAMH Programme Lead | Clinical Psychologist

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 Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, describe and analyse common substances associated with addictive behaviours, their effects and harms on young people's cognitive and socio-emotional functioning. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 4.1 and 5.1)
  2. Understand and critically evaluate the principles of health behaviour change model and harm reduction as it applies to this age group. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 5.1 and 6.2)
  3. Demonstrate and apply Screening, brief interventions and referral to treatment (SBIRT) and the promotion of these in primary and secondary care (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.2)
  4. Articulate and apply motivational interviewing spirit and engagement skills in practice with young people and their families (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of of evidenced-based interventions (MI, CBT, Family Systems, Third Wave) in youth addiction and co-existing issues (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
  6. Understand and critically evaluate issues related to the managment of co-existing problems in young people including awareness of developmental and cultural considerations (Capability 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  7. Inquire into, critique, experience specific aspects of addiction treatment less commonly seen in CAMHS settings (e.g., Opiate Substitution Treatment, Detoxification service, Residential rehabilitation, 12 step programmes, Needle exchange, Pain teams) via visits or discussions with service providers (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reports 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 14% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 32% Individual Test
Reflection 24% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Reports
Presentation
Quizzes
Reflection

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 20 hours of lectures,  80 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes (Hybrid Model)

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at the scheduled teaching block on campus over 2 days. 

Online

Most of the course is completed online via CANVAS.

Attendance is required at scheduled online activities including the introductory session and the presentation assessment.

This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning 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.

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.

Feedback from students (and the managers / supervisors at their place of work) is regularly incorporated into the following year's course to provide ongoing continuing improvement.


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.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.