Overview

This unit provides students with a comprehensive understanding of theory and practice in relation to substance abuse and its apparent relationship with offending behaviour. The unit will equip students with knowledge regarding current evidence-based approaches for assessing and treating offenders who have significant substance misuse issues.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the theoretical explanations for the relationship between substance misuse and offending
  • Discuss the challenges associated with substance misuse assessment and treatment in the forensic context
  • Interpret the role of substance misuse in specific forensic populations
  • Appraise drug diversion schemes and their operational effectiveness

Teaching methods

Hawthorn Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Workshop		12.00 1 week 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning		11.50 12 weeks 138
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 35% 2 
Research and Short Answer QuestionsIndividual 30% 4 
Research and Short Answer QuestionsIndividual 35% 1,2,3 

Content

  • Substance misuse and offending (approaches to definition, rates and prevalence,
  • theories)
  • Assessment (approaches, critique, challenges in forensic settings)
  • Treatment (approaches and critique, challenges in forensic settings)
  • Reducing substance misuse related offending
  • Dual diagnosis (definition, implications and policy related context)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.