Therapeutic Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs

Master of Science

Course Details

Course Code	LY_NTIAD_M
Level	9
Duration	1/2 years
Credits	90
Method of Delivery	Blended
Campus Locations	Donegal – Letterkenny
Mode of Delivery	Full Time, Part Time

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Course Overview

Our Master of Science in Therapeutic Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs aims to provide those working in the areas of Nursing, Health and Social Care to effectively deal with drugs and alcohol issues.

The programme will enhance your abilities in the field by extending theoretical knowledge and practical skills to alleviate these issues.

The course is mindful of the diverse professional backgrounds of participants and will provide you with the specialist skills and opportunity to enhance your knowledge base, employment and career prospects whatever your specialist field.

The programme plays a key role in empowering a workforce to respond to and provide systemic alcohol and other drug interventions within a four-tier model of treatment and care.

Course Details

Year 1

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Advanced Research Methods This module aims to provide students from a variety of professional backgrounds with the ability to enhance their professional practice by developing their skills and knowledge of research methods in the field of therapeutic interventions in alcohol and other drugs. This module will expose students to the critical analysis of evidence produced by a range of methodologies. Particular emphasis and focus will be upon how this knowledge is applied to decision-making in the field of therapeutic interventions in alcohol and other drugs. Learning Outcomes 1. Critically analyse different qualitative / quantitative methodological approaches to producing evidence relating to the field of therapeutic interventions for alcohol and other drugs. 2. Elaborate on philosophical, theoretical and ethical underpinnings of methodologicalapproaches. 3. Evaluate the procedure of using research to inform evidence-based care in the area of therapeutic interventions for alcohol and other drugs. 4. Critically formulate research questions relevant in the area of therapeutic interventions for alcohol and other drugs. 5. Critically review and evaluate therapeutic interventions for alcohol and other drugs including leadership, change and compassionate care.	10	Mandatory
1	Theoretical Foundations in Therapeutic Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs This module aims to enable students develop an integrative theoretical knowledge of the complex social, psychological and biological issues involved in the development and maintenance of problematic alcohol and other drug use on the continuum including addictive and process behaviours. Learning Outcomes 1. Critique the evidence and foundations for the biopsychosocial model of addiction and appraise that model in respect of alternative approaches such as the ‘disease model’ of addiction. 2. Differentiate the neurobiological, biological and genetic bases of addictive behaviour for alcohol and other drugs and process addictions. 3. Reflect on discourse, language and professional and non- professional descriptions of addiction and its influence. 4. Evaluate the influence and impact of drug, set and setting on an individual. 5. Assess the implications of a Harm Reduction Approach to alcohol and other drug use. 6. Assess the impact of national and international strategy and policy on substance use and addictions including leadership, change and compassionate care.	10	Mandatory
1	Alcohol & Other Drug Use: Interventions Practice & Skills 1 This module aims to develop students' understanding of individual and cultural factors influencing psychological well-being; and prepares students to become skilled in evidenced informed best practice interventions in the alcohol and other drugs field. Learning Outcomes 1. Critically evaluate the interaction between genetics and the environment (including social, political, economic, physical and personal factors) as determinants of health, including alcohol and other drug use, misuse and addiction 2. Critique Screening and Brief Interventions and Motivational Interviewing skills and their application inpractice along the continuum of hazardous, harmful and dependent alcohol or other drug use. 3. Evaluate and apply appropriate intervention strategies along the continuum of alcohol and other drug use as well as the individuals intrinsic and extrinsic influences and motivation to change. 4. Appraise the continuum of use and critique societal attitudes towards alcohol and other drug use in the context of Harm Reduction and its efficacy in practice 5. Research and analyse practical strategies for recognising stress and promoting positive psychological well-being in self and others 6. Critically reflect on ones own intervention skills and further advance self-awareness and its impact on practice including leadership, change and compassionate care.	10	Mandatory
2	Children & Families: Hidden Harm This module aims to provide students with critical analysis of the impact of problem alcohol and other drug use on child and family functioning underpinned by policy and legislation. This module will explore the impact of parental problem alcohol and other drug use from conception across the life span of the child with emphasis on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Learning Outcomes 1. Critically review the current research in the domain of Hidden Harm. 2. Critique the biomedical and clinical background of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other disorders related to prenatal alcohol exposure, known collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). 3. Evaluate and assess the links between developmental psychology and social and environmental factors in the development of children impacted by parental problem alcohol and other drug use and how to apply these in making professional assessments of children, including children with FASD 4. Justify choice of intervention skills and tools utilised in the context of intervention for families impacted by alcohol and other drug use, emphasis on FASD and Hidden Harm 5. Critically evaluate the ethical, legal, and policy issues related to FASDs and Hidden Harm 6. Synthesise the unique challenges of implementing emerging policy and practice frameworks forHidden Harm	10	Mandatory

Year 2

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Alcohol & Other Drug Use: Interventions Practice & Skills 2 This module aims to introduce students to the theory and practice regarding psychotherapeutic end early interventions used in alcohol and other drug detoxification and treatment contexts. Emphasis will be given to the development of basic helping skills to enhance competency when working with addiction and mental health. Learning Outcomes 1. Identify a range of therapeutic approaches used in problem alcohol and other drug treatment inIreland. 2. Discriminate and provide a rationale for practitioner choice of therapeutic interventions used in alcohol and other drug practice. 3. Plan, facilitate and evaluate a group therapeutic session with clients 4. Identify power, conflict and lack of participation in individual and group interventions and how best to manage difficult situations 5. Critically evaluate the use of pharmacotherapy when intervening with people who have addictive disorders 6. Develop an insight into ethical behaviour as a practitioner and the use of your own influence/values inthe helping role including leadership, change and compassionate care.	10	Mandatory
1	Alcohol Drugs and Mental Health: Recovery Approaches This module introduces students to co-occurring disorders i.e. alcohol or drug disorders that exist alongside mental health. Students will examine and evaluate psychotherapeutic recovery approaches to alcohol and other drugs. The existence and severity of co-occurring disorders and strategies for risk management associated with evidenced based treatment will be explored. The principles and practice of Alcohol Related Brain Injury (ARBI) identification, treatment and clinical rehabilitation will be presented. Emphasis is placed on the development and maintenance of the therapeutic relationship. Learning Outcomes 1. Identify the predisposing factors including aetiology and epidemiology which contributes to the development of alcohol and other drug disorders, co-occurring mental health disorders and Alcohol Related Brain Injury (ARBI). 2. Apply the relevant knowledge and skills to engage in the holistic evidenced based assessment and therapeutic intervention for individuals experiencing co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health disorders 3. Critically analyse the principles and practice of clinical rehabilitation of Alcohol Related Brain Injury disorder and apply these to the contemporary practice in the management of ARBI 4. Critically evaluate the potential impact of co-occurring alcohol and other drug disorders and mental health on professional practice, service provision, families and the broader community 5. Discuss the management of psychopharmacological interventions used in the treatment of cooccurring mental health and alcohol and other drug disorders 6. Synthesise the unique challenges of working with individuals who experience mental health andalcohol and other drug problems in the context of legislation and national policy including leadership, change and compassionate care.	10	Mandatory
1	Research Dissertation Students on this Masters’ programme require a sound grasp of both research methodologies and systematic methods of reviewing literature in order to plan, design and undertake their research project. This module shall build on students’ knowledge and experience gained in semester one of the MSc in Therapeutic Interventions in Alcohol and Other Drugs by enabling them to undertake a research project to enhance their evidence based practice Learning Outcomes 1. Develop appropriate data collection instruments for mixed methods research and to evaluate each for their appropriateness to the research question; 2. Engage in a sustained piece of individual, academic research on a chosen topic within the field(s)specifically relevant to the course; 3. Read widely and critically reflect on a number of pieces of written research in an appropriate and thorough manner; 4. Evaluate varying methodological approaches and to adopt the necessary approaches suitable to the topic being researched; 5. Produce a dissertation that evaluates and synthesises quantitative (statistical) approaches such as empirical tests on a hypothesis; 6. Produce a dissertation that evaluates and synthesises qualitative research methods such as the literature review and dissertation proposal and displays evidence of independent research skills.	30	Mandatory

Recommended Study Hours per week

Part-time: 3 lecture days per module. 13 hours self directed learning weekly. Full-time: 4 lecture hours per module weekly. 13 hours self directed learning weekly.

Examination and Assessment

100% continuous assessment.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Each academic year requires attendance for 6 Fridays per semester. Students
are also required to complete additional blended learning activities via the Virtual Learning Environment.

Download a prospectus

Postgraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirements are a Level 8 Honours Degree in a relevant discipline such as Health and Social Care, Nursing, Social Work, Youth Work, Psychology, medicine etc. Applicants may be required to undertake an interview.

Applicants who do not hold the above entry requirements may be considered using the ATU Recognition of Prior Learning process.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €6300

Further information on fees

Careers

Graduate careers typically include leadership roles in addiction recovery agencies, positions as Substance Use Educators or Support Workers, and roles as Therapeutic Intervention Specialists.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

This course would be of interest to professionals such as counsellors, therapists, doctors, nurses, youth workers, social workers, allied healthcare professionals, social care practitioners, psychologists, or probation officers.