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ANTX1006 – Drugs Across Cultures

2022 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Timothy Lynch
timothy.lynch@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Using anthropological and ethnographic studies, this unit focuses mainly on the social and cultural contexts of drug use, both legal and illegal. Topics include: the international traffic in opium/heroin and cocaine in the Golden Triangle of mainland South-East Asia and in South America and the way this traffic inter-meshes with regional politics and local tribal, peasant and commercial systems of production and exchange; the social history of drugs in the USA, UK and Australia; youth culture and drugs in the West; AIDS and intravenous drug use; addiction and treatment; drugs and the law; the global political economy of pharmaceuticals, particularly contraceptives, erectile dysfunction drugs, and antiretrovirals in the age of AIDS; and the placebo effect. Students will learn to appreciate the complex ways that drug use is shaped by cultural, historical, economic, and political factors on a global scale. This unit also examines psychological theories of addiction and the neurology of drug use. All enrolment queries should be directed to Open Universities Australia (OUA): see www.open.edu.au

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the pharmacology of recreational drugs.
  • ULO3: Show familiarity with anthropological and ethnographic approaches to drug use, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use.
  • ULO2: Describe the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction.
  • ULO4: Describe the impact of broad social, political, and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including how social perceptions of drugs are influenced by gender, class, and ethnicity.
  • ULO5: Identify the influence of local, regional, and global factors on drug production and distribution.
  • ULO6: Apply anthropological knowledge to real world issues and clarify your own position on drugs to be able to make informed decisions about drug policy.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Mid-Semester Quiz 20% No Week 7
Weekly Quizzes 40% No Weekly
Final Exam 40% No Week 13

Mid-Semester Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

An open-note, online, mid-term quiz will assess comprehensive knowledge of lectures and readings for the first half of the semester

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the pharmacology of recreational drugs.
  • Show familiarity with anthropological and ethnographic approaches to drug use, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use.
  • Describe the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction.
  • Describe the impact of broad social, political, and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including how social perceptions of drugs are influenced by gender, class, and ethnicity.
  • Identify the influence of local, regional, and global factors on drug production and distribution.
  • Apply anthropological knowledge to real world issues and clarify your own position on drugs to be able to make informed decisions about drug policy.

Weekly Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 40%

 

Weekly quizzes based on lecture materials and weekly readings. They are completed through iLearn and they are open-note and open-book.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the pharmacology of recreational drugs.
  • Show familiarity with anthropological and ethnographic approaches to drug use, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use.
  • Describe the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction.
  • Describe the impact of broad social, political, and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including how social perceptions of drugs are influenced by gender, class, and ethnicity.
  • Identify the influence of local, regional, and global factors on drug production and distribution.
  • Apply anthropological knowledge to real world issues and clarify your own position on drugs to be able to make informed decisions about drug policy.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

A final exam will assess cumulative knowledge of lectures, readings and films from the entire semester.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of the pharmacology of recreational drugs.
  • Show familiarity with anthropological and ethnographic approaches to drug use, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use.
  • Describe the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction.
  • Describe the impact of broad social, political, and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including how social perceptions of drugs are influenced by gender, class, and ethnicity.
  • Identify the influence of local, regional, and global factors on drug production and distribution.
  • Apply anthropological knowledge to real world issues and clarify your own position on drugs to be able to make informed decisions about drug policy.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Lecture recordings will be available through 'Echo' on the unit iLearn page. All required readings are available through Leganto, also on the iLearn page. Additional readings can be accessed online through the Macquarie University Library.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook