Assingments % - SPS201 Alcohol and Other Drugs

SPS201 Alcohol and Other Drugs Essay 1 Sample

Assignment Brief

a) Description

This assessment requires analysis on three foundational areas of learning –

1. Understanding of addiction

2. The Cycle of Addiction

3. Evidence based models (choose one evidence-based model only)

b) Format

To be successful in this assessment you must address all three areas. You are required to clearly demonstrate your understanding of what addiction is, in terms of your what you have learnt, how the cycle of addiction impacts as well as giving a very clear understanding of one evidence-based model.

This assessment serves as a preparatory guide to the learning that students are expected to acquire and develops the research and analysis skills required to complete subsequent assessments. Your assessment must be submitted through Turnitin and must adhere to the College’s academic integrity and authorship requirements. The questions and instructions contained in the file will be available three weeks before the due date.

Note Research literature

Your essay must be based on a review of the literature and should include at least five primary academic references, ie peer-reviewed (scholarly) journal articles or book chapters. Do not rely upon non-academic and other web-based secondary references as these do not constitute academic references for the purpose of your assignment, which if relied upon for theoretical support, may mean you have NOT met the requirements of the assessment.

Referencing

You must use APA 7 referencing.

Table of references: You must include a Table of references section in your essay and acknowledge any sources that you use, including all web-based sources.

Structure of essay

As the assignment conveniently provides the three foundational areas to be addressed, there is a lot of sense to use them as headings, as they form the basis of assessment criteria. If there are identifiable questions or sub-issues within each heading, then it may be a good strategy to also include these as sub-headings under each heading.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step-by-Step Tutor Guide to Structuring and Writing Your Essay

Step 1: Read the Task as an Assessment Checklist

Before writing, highlight:

The three required learning areas
Minimum five peer-reviewed sources
APA 7 referencing requirement

Anything not addressed explicitly risks lost marks.

Step 2: Plan Your Essay Structure

Use the foundational areas as headings, as suggested in the brief:

Understanding Addiction
The Cycle of Addiction
Evidence-Based Model

This ensures direct alignment with marking criteria.

Step 3: Write the Introduction (≈150 words)

Your introduction should:

Introduce alcohol and other drug use as a social and health issue
Define the purpose of the essay
Briefly outline the three areas that will be discussed

✍️ Tip: Keep it concise and academic—no references are usually needed here.

Step 4: Section 1 – Understanding Addiction

Under this heading, demonstrate conceptual understanding by:

Defining addiction using scholarly sources
Discussing biological, psychological, and social aspects
Referring to addiction as a chronic, relapsing condition where relevant

Use peer-reviewed literature to support all claims.

Step 5: Section 2 – The Cycle of Addiction

Explain:

Key stages of the addiction cycle (e.g. initiation, maintenance, dependence, relapse)
How the cycle reinforces substance use
Impacts on behaviour, cognition, relationships, and wellbeing

Support your discussion with theoretical models and research findings.

Step 6: Section 3 – Evidence-Based Model (Choose One Only)

Select one recognised evidence-based model, such as:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
The Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change)
Harm Reduction Model

Clearly explain:

Core principles of the model
How it addresses addiction and relapse
Why it is considered evidence-based

⚠️ Do not describe multiple models—depth is required, not breadth.

Step 7: Write the Conclusion (≈150 words)

Your conclusion should:

Summarise key insights from each section
Reinforce the importance of evidence-based approaches
Avoid introducing new information

Step 8: Table of References

Include at least five peer-reviewed academic sources
Ensure all in-text citations appear in the reference list
Follow APA 7 formatting exactly

Step 9: Final Submission Checks

Before submitting:

All three foundational areas addressed
Minimum academic sources met
APA 7 referencing accurate
Academic tone maintained
Similarity check reviewed in Turnitin

Academic Resources You Can Use (APA 7 Compatible)

You may use the following peer-reviewed and scholarly sources:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Addiction Science
https://nida.nih.gov
Marlatt, G. A., & Donovan, D. M. (2005). Relapse Prevention (Book)
American Psychiatric Association – DSM-5-TR (Substance Use Disorders)
https://www.psychiatry.org
Prochaska, J. O., & DiClemente, C. C. – Stages of Change Model
https://psycnet.apa.org
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-substance-abuse-treatment
Addiction (Journal)
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. – Motivational Interviewing (Book)

SPS201 Alcohol and Other Drugs – Essay 1 Sample