JST320 Drugs, Crime and Society (8)

Abstract

This subject examines social, legal and political responses to illicit and licit drug use in contemporary society, with emphasis on Australian society. Taking in the complexities of human behaviour and social action as it relates to substance use, students will need to examine domestic and international debates on the current 'war against drugs'. The relationship between key social concepts such as race, gender and ethnicity, and official and unofficial interventions, will be explored. Priority will be given to an understanding of the legal implications of drug use within a broad societal context, and the range of interventions inside and outside the criminal justice system.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 2
Internal	Bathurst Campus
Distance	Bathurst Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: JST320
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration	Grading System	School:
One session	HD/FL	School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the social construction of 'the drug problem'
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the distinction between licit and illicit drug use/abuse
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of patterns of drug use and abuse across a variety of historical, cultural, national and international settings
- be able to critically analyse the political, social and economic implications of contemporary Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) use and abuse
- be able to critically analyse political, criminal justice and medical responses to AOD use/abuse
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the links between drug use/abuse and crime
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the complex interplay between individual police discretion and wider political and organisational agendas in policing AOD related crime
- be able demonstrate an understanding of the role of AOS in youth cultures
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of the assumptions and practices underlying a range of intervention strategies directed at AOD use/abuse

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
- Historical trends in drug use, abuse, and control - International trends in drug policy - Treatment and control of drugs and drug users - The development of drug control in Australia - The legalisation/ decriminalisation debate - Social and psychological consequences of drug use - Youth, drugs and crime - Race, class, gender, ethnicity, drugs and crime - Police strategies for drug-related crime - Problem-oriented policing and drug crime prevention - Police discretion and drug law enforcement

Back