CONTEMPORARY DRUG & ALCOHOL STUDIES MSc

DURATION & STUDY MODE
1 year full-time, typically 2 years part-time

Our innovative MSc Contemporary Alcohol & Drug Studies course adopts a critical social science perspective to explore the interplay between psychoactive substances and society across a range of areas. It enables you to bring an evidence-based approach to the use of drugs, alcohol and other substances in theory and practice.

You will critically examine key themes in the study of substance use, including:

• definitions of and effects of substances
• patterns of consumption within different social contexts
• drug markets and addictive industries
• the consequences of substance-related harms for individuals, families, neighbourhoods and society

You will also examine the social, economic and political influences on substances and their effects. In addition, you will compare and contrast the operations of the alcohol industry with the drugs economy and explore current debates on alcohol and drug law reforms nationally and internationally.

A key feature of the MSc programme is its exploration of developments in practice responses to substance use and its critical evaluation of the evidence for behaviour change, treatment outcomes, harm reduction and recovery.