HSC2012 - Drugs, Ethics and Community

Leader: Dr Suzanne Evans and Dr Wayne Sturrock

Offered

Peninsula Second semester (extended) 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit will cover the biological, behavioural, ethical, economic and political factors that drive the development and the use of drugs within four arenas of drug use (and misuse): prescribed medications, non-prescribed medications, recreational drugs and performance-enhancing drugs. This will include the processes of drug discovery and development, drug testing, drug scheduling and PBS listing, physical and psychological dependence, tolerance, the neurobiology of addiction, drug compliance and drug misuse, and their relationship with mental health.

Objectives

1. Critically reflect on the history of drug use by humans, and on the socio-political, historic and moral factors that influence how we view and use drugs in today's society;
2. Provide an overview of the discovery and development of new drugs, and of the approaches employed by the pharmaceutical industry;
3. Discuss the history and motivating factors for the development of the current drug regulatory environment;
4. Discuss the various factors that impact on the number and variety of therapeutic agents available for use as prescribed drugs;
5. The economic, political and moral factors which drive the decision-making process of PBS listing:
6. Outline the various pharmacological characteristics which are common to drugs of misuse, and the neural mechanisms of addiction;
7. Outline the criteria used in the controlling of drugs, and the evidence for the effects on the use of the drug, both legitimate and illicit;
8. Discuss the rationale for the development of drug scheduling;
9. Discuss the evidence for a relationship between psychiatric disorders and drug misuse;
10. Provide a balanced and informed discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of drugs in society.

Assessment

One end of semester examination 50%
one class presentation/assignment 30%
4 online quizzes 5% each
Hurdel: Student must pass the written examination to pass the unit.

Prerequisites

HSC1092, HSC1301, or HSC1032