Course description
Programme description
- An internationally recognised vocational qualification.
- An integrated, multidisciplinary teaching approach to misuse of and dependence upon alcohol, nicotine and other drugs.
- Aims to improve understanding of addiction to drugs, alcohol and tobacco and to develop more effective preventative and treatment interventions.
Enables students to develop the skills needed to provide treatment for misuse and dependence, organise treatment services, perform high-quality health service related research, train other professionals and to act as a health advocate.
Programme format and assessment
Academic seminars; small group teaching; journal club; clinical teaching skills seminars; individual/clinical placements; clinical oral examination; unseen written exams; six coursework assignments and a dissertation.
Programme modules for MSc Clinical & Public Health Aspects of Addiction
Clinical Issues, Assessment, Skills & Treatment (45 Credits) (Core Module)
The educational aims of this module are to: consider the clinical science germane to the management of drug, alcohol and nicotine dependence; acquire basic clinical skills working with individual substance misuse clients; explore the assessment of the suitability of different treatment approaches for particular clients; understand crisis intervention and structure for assessing and managing risk in alcohol and drug misuse; examine the clinical issues of HIV and Hepatitis B & C in clinical practice; examine the involvement of different agencies and the organisation of services for substance misusers. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in the: application of theoretical knowledge to clinical practice; advanced knowledge of the principal aspects of a successful therapeutic relationship; competent execution of clinical interview and presentation skills; critical awareness of the processes involved in patient assessment and management; comprehensive ability to assess and manage substance use & misuse problems; presentation and writing up of standard and complex cases; ability to disseminate information regarding the organisation of services for substance misusers; recognition of the need for a multi-agency approach. Assessment is by: a one-hour short-answer unseen paper (10% of final grade); two 3000-word casebooks (40%); one two-hour clinical examination (50%); clinical placements (250 hours) and clinical visits (50 hours).
Introduction and Phenomenology (15 Credits) (Core Module)
The Educational aims of this module are to: explore the concepts of misuse, dependence and substance related problems in general terms and the factors influencing drug effects and dependence potential; examine the evidence base for alcohol disorders, smoking related problems and nicotine addiction, and the types of opioid available to clients; examine the different treatment options for alcohol, nicotine and opioid withdrawal; acquire an understanding of methods of quantification of alcohol and drugs; investigate current knowledge with regard to drug interactions and issues relating to polydrug misuse; examine the main drugs used in a recreational context, risks and harm minimisation. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in: interpretation of the current scientific literature regarding drug, alcohol and nicotine dependence; detailed knowledge of the theoretical basis of the addictions; critical awareness and understanding of current issues in the addictions; appreciation of the size of the smoking problem world-wide; detailed knowledge of the background factors associated with alcohol and drug misuse; detailed knowledge of specific combinations of drugs and polydrug misuse; comprehensive understanding of the impact of route of drug use on drug effects and complications. Assessment is by one 3000-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Neurobiology & Psychopharmacology (15 Credits) (Core Module)
The educational aims of this module are to gain: an understanding of the scientific basis and treatment of substance misuse and dependence from a biological perspective; to examine in detail the neurobiological basis of treatments for drug dependence and withdrawal; to examine current knowledge with regard to the clinical evaluation of the treatment efficacy of pharmacological treatments; to understand the principles of pharmacokinetics, chemistry and clinical toxicology relating to routes of administration of different drugs of abuse. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in the: knowledge of the biological basis of the addictions; specialist knowledge of the onset, course, symptoms, signs and treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome; mechanisms of action of drugs on brain reward systems, the processes of tolerance, sensitisation, dependence and withdrawal; understanding of cellular mechanisms of neuroadaptation; awareness of the assessment of abuse liability using laboratory methods; specialist knowledge and evaluation of pharmacological treatments for drug abuse and dependence; knowledge of laboratory methods for screening for drugs of abuse; knowledge of the risk factors for the transmission of HIV and other blood borne viruses. Assessment is by a 3000-word essay accounting for 100% of the final grade for this module.
Public Health & Policy (15 credits) (Core Module)
The educational aims of this module are to: develop a range of knowledge and skills relevant to public health approaches to substance misuse; understand the public health problems caused by smoking tobacco and cannabis; understand the public health problems caused by alcohol and drug consumption; examine and evaluate interventions to target harmful health-related behaviours in the wider population; explore the relationship between alcohol and drug misuse and crime and to understand its importance for public policy; investigate cultural and spiritual perspectives of substance misuse. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in the: critical appraisal of how the media construct drug problems and risk; comprehensive assessment of the value of a broad harm reduction approach; detailed knowledge of access to, use of and critical analysis of the evidence base relating to public health aspects of addiction; detailed knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of questionnaire design; critical assessment of prevention programmes. Assessment is by a one-hour, short-answer unseen written examination (50% of the final grade) and a 1500-word book review (50%).
Research Dissertation- Clinical & Public Health Aspects of Addiction (60 Credits) (Core Module)
The Educational aims of this module are to provide students with the ability to: plan and carry out a piece of research under supervision; examine critically the current scientific literature relating to the chosen topic; construct a clear research protocol and to understand the pertinent ethical issues for committee approval; select and use appropriate methods to analyse data and present findings; critically evaluate the value of the project to the field; develop presentation skills in lecture and poster format. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in: advanced discussion, analysis and critique of scientific information pertinent to the research topic; research design and implementation; selection of appropriate research methods, analysis and interpretation of different types of data; management & organisation of small research projects; presentation skills; poster design and production; report writing; individual time management. Assessment is by: one 3,000-word protocol (25% of total grade), a 30-minute oral presentation (15%) and a 10-15,000-word dissertation (60%).
Research Methods & Epidemiology (15 Credits) (Core Module)
The education aims of this module are: the development of research skills relevant to epidemiology and health service research; to examine epidemiological study designs and their application in different clinical settings; to enhance the ability to discuss and evaluate research projects and papers; to understand the research principles involved in hypothesis testing and estimation procedures; to develop generic skills in data analysis and statistical procedures. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in the: critical understanding and explanation of research principles; evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological study designs and how they can be applied in different clinical settings; interpretation of basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods; requirements for writing a study protocol; advanced discussion, analysis and critique of scientific information pertinent to the addictions field; research methods, data analysis and interpretation; problem solving in theory and practice pertinent to the addictions field. Assessment is by a one-hour MCQ paper (50% of the final grade) and one 1500-word written critique of a research paper (50%).
The Scientific Basis of Psychological Interventions & Clinical Practice (15 Credits) (Core Module)
The educational aims of this module are to: explore the principles of psychological assessment and formulation in addiction settings; understand the stages of change model related to addictive behaviours; evaluate the principles of different theoretical approaches; examine the use and comparative efficacy of different psychological therapies in clinical practice; examine psychological approaches used with specialist populations. At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate M level competence in the: psychological science germane to the management of drug, alcohol and nicotine dependence; critical awareness of the current literature related to psychological theories of addiction; advanced discussion, analysis and critique of scientific information pertinent to the psychological basis of addiction; critical ability to assess the efficacy of different psychological approaches; application of theoretical knowledge to clinical practice; critical awareness of processes involved in psychological assessment and formulation. Assessment is by one 3000-word essay, which accounts for 100% of the total grade for this module.
