Sociocultural perspectives of addiction

In this unit you will explore the role played by social determinants and culture in the genesis and maintenance of problems with addiction.

You will explore how a range of factors may impact on the prevalence and experiences of addiction and how these factors can intersect in such a way as to account for the higher prevalence of problems with addiction experienced by some communities including youth, GLBTIQ+ and Indigenous Australians. You will examine how different socio-cultural contexts have shaped addiction patterns across different populations from a current and historical perspective.

You will consider insights and perspectives from a broad spectrum of social science disciplines and learn how different cultures perceive addiction, the social constructs surrounding it, and the stigmatisation associated with it. This will foster empathy and sensitivity towards diverse perspectives.

You will appraise the role of socio-cultural factors in changing patterns and phenomenology of addictive behaviours and look at trends and shifts in addiction prevalence, as well as cultural, social, and technological influences on addictive behaviours.