Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC3033: Addiction

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:

Outline of topics to be covered

  1. Introduction to addiction
  2. Biological and psychological models of addiction
  3. Social constructionist approaches and addiction as ‘myth’
  4. The social science of drug use I: Cannabis
  5. The social science of drug use II: Opiates/heroin
  6. Alcohol abuse
  7. Smoking
  8. Lifestyle addictions (e.g. sex, gambling, internet use, food, exercise)
  9. Treatment and counselling
  10. Addiction policy: Harm reduction
  11. Addiction policy: Legalization

 

Example seminar debates

  1. Definitions: Is sex addiction really an ‘addiction’?
  2. Models: Is addiction a matter of ‘choice’ or ‘heredity’?
  3. What are the problems of researching drug cultures?
  4. Treatment: Should addicts be given free needles or replacement substances (methadone)?

Policy: Would legalization of illegal drugs cut crime rates?

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning activity1111 x 1 hour lectures delivering the academic framework of the course
Scheduled learning activity1111 x 1 hour seminars including group work and class discussion of key topics and debates from the lectures
Guided independent study4020 course readings (2 hours each)
Guided independent study40Reading/research for essay
Guided independent study8Critique preparation
Guided independent study40Reading/revisions for examination

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

ELE http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Journals: Addiction, Addictive Behaviours, Journal of Addiction Medicine (JAMA), Sociology