PHARM 3101 - Biological and Psychosocial Factors in Addictions
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHARM 3101 Course Biological and Psychosocial Factors in Addictions Coordinating Unit Medical Sciences Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 5 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites HLTH SC 2104 Assumed Knowledge HLTH SC 2104 Assessment Online quizzes, oral presentation and exam. Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Abdallah Salem
Dr Abdallah Salem
abdallah.salem@adelaide.edu.au
Dr Andrea Gordon
andrea.gordon@adelaide.edu.au
Lectures and workshops will be run by staff from the Disciplines of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, School of Psychology and external experts.
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
The course is taught by academics from the Adelaide Medical School and the School of Psychology primarily, with support from local and global experts.
Week lecture lecture 1 Biological and Psychosocial Factors Biological and Psychosocial Factors 2 Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Psychosocial Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Biological 3 Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Social experiences Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Life span 4 The brain and brain signalling How drugs affect the brain 5 Different drugs-different effects Different drugs-different effects 6 Different drugs-different effects Different drugs-different effects 7 Biological changes in addiction Biological changes in addiction 8 Biological changes in addiction Biological changes in addiction 9 Psychological processes in addiction Psychological processes in addiction 10 Comorbid addiction and mental health Comorbid addiction and mental health 11 Behavioural addictions Behavioural addictions 12 Advances in research Advances in research -
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the effects of a range of drugs of abuse, including nicotine and alcohol
2. Demonstrate an understanding of adaptation in the body and brain that arise with continued drug use
3. Understand the processes that drive behavioural addictions
4. Analyse the factors that impact on the chance that someone will develop an addiction
5. Describe the psychological processes that affect continued drug use or problem gambling behaviour
6. Describe recent developments in our understanding of the biological basis of addiction and comorbidities
7. Discuss origins of addiction in a professional and culturally sensitive mannerUniversity Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1-6 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
4 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
7 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
4,7 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
7 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
Textbook: William Blows, The Biological Basis Of Mental Health, 3rd Edition, 2016, Routledge, ISBN: 9781138900615.
Also available as ebook (ISBN 9781315707167).Recommended Resources
Nancy Petry (Editor) Behavioral Addictions: Dsm-5脗庐 and Beyond; 1st Edition, 2016, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 978-0199391547Online Learning
Online resources will be used extensively to help with both bridging and extending students. We will offer interactive tools on drugs, case studies and perspectives from professionals. We will also use video or lecture material from local and international experts to provide a rich learning experience. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
In this course we will use interactive lectures and online resources to provide the students with new material to increase their understanding of the topic. The workshops will be used to discuss the nuances in smaller groups such as looking at life trajectories and lived experiences and help them to discuss issues in a professional and culturally sensitive way. We feel it is important to help students understand the human angle, show the stories behind the people with addiction to help them understand life trajectories.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The total weekly workload for this course is 12 hours per week with a contact time of 3-4 hours per week;
as a guide it is comprised of the following activities:
Lectures including preparation: 4 hours p.w.
Workshops including preparation: 3 hours p.w.
Study, test and exam revision; preparation group presentation: 5 hours p.w.Learning Activities Summary
Week lecture (2 lectures each week) Workshop 1 Biological and Psychosocial factors in drug use and addiction What is addiction? 2 Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Biological and Psychological Individual differences 3 Individual differences in susceptibility to addiction: Social experiences and Life Span Long impact of trauma 4 The brain and brain signalling How drugs affect our brain and behaviour 5 Different drugs-different effects Patterns of alcohol and drug use 6 Different drugs-different effects Abuse liability of drugs 7 Biological changes in addiction Biological changes with continued drug use 8 Biological changes in addiction Biology of addiction 10 Psychological factors in addiction Psychological processes 11 Having both addiction and mental health problems Impact of comorbidity 12 Behavioural Addictions Drug versus behavioural addictions 13 Advances in research Group work
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome(s) Online quizzes Formative 0% 1 - 6 Online tests Summative 30% 1 - 6 Workshop attendance and participation Summative 15% 1 - 7 Presentation Summative 10% 1 - 7 Exam Summative 45% 1 - 6 Assessment Related Requirements
Students need to attend and be involved in at least 50% of the weekly workshops.Assessment Detail
Online quizzes - students will have access to online quizzes to test their understanding of the topics.
Online tests - students will sit three online MCQ content tests to test their understanding of the content.
Workshop attendance and participation- Students will be provided with workshop activities and answer questions during workshop sessions.
Presentation- groups of students will be asked to research one aspect of biology of addictions and present on how this impacts the chance that someone will develop or maintain addictive behaviour.
Exam - students will complete an exam covering course lecture content.Submission
The majority of tasks will be submission through MyUni.
Late submissions of any student work are not acceptable. Coursework received after the deadline will be penalised as follows:10% of total available points will be penalised per day (24 hour period or fraction thereof). An automatic zero mark will be applied after 7 days.
If you miss an assessment test e.g. from illness, you are required to present medical or compassionate certification to be eligible to sit a supplementary test. Such certificates need to be provided to The Course Coordinator directly within one week of the test date. The date and time of the supp. test is then determined by the Course Coordinator and is not negotiable. Students will be informed of the supp. test date by email.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
This is a new course, so SELT's are not available yet. -
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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