SA4L6 Half Unit
Illegal Drugs and Their Control: Theory, Policy and Practice
This information is for the 2013/14 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Michael Shiner OLD2.49
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Criminal Justice Policy, MSc in Regulation, MSc in Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy), MSc in Social Policy (Research), MSc in Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning) and Master of Laws. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Pre-requisites
Some familiarity with criminology or sociology is preferable but not essential
Course content
This multi-disciplinary course draws on sociology, psychology, criminology and law to examine the place and meaning of illegal drug use in late modern societies and associated policy responses. It begins by considering drug use and subcultural formations; the ‘normalisation’ of drug use; drug tourism; the role of addiction; and the organisation of drug markets. It then goes onto consider the making of drugs policy; drugs, policing and the law; treatment and harm reduction; drugs as a development and human rights issue; decriminalisation and alternatives to prohibition.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to submit a formative essay (2,000 words), which is to be handed in by the end of week eight of MT.
Indicative reading
Aldridge, J., Measham, F., and Williams, L. (2011) Illegal Leisure Revisited: Changing Patterns of Alcohol and Drug Use in Adolescents and Young Adults, London: Routledge.
Bean, P. (2008) Drugs and Crime, Cullompton: Willan.
R. Hughes, R. Lart., and P. Higate (2006) Drugs: Policy and Politics, Maidenhead: Open University press.
Klein, A. (2008) Drugs and the World, London: Reaktion.
MacCoun, R.J., and Reuter, P. (2001) Drug War Heresies: Learning from Other Vices, Times and Places, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Shiner, M. (2009) 'Drug Use and Social Change: The Distortion of History, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
M. Simpson, T. Shildrick and R. MacDonald (2007) Drugs in Britain: Supply, Consumption and Control, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.
Stevens, A. (2011) Drugs Crime and Public Health: The Political Economy of Drug Policy, London: Routledge.
Assessment
Essay (100%, 3000 words) in the LT.
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Total students 2012/13: Unavailable
Average class size 2012/13: Unavailable
Value: Half Unit
