2.0 Introduction

Chapter Introduction

You may wonder why you are learning about the social determinants of health (SDoH), in a course about psychoactive substances and social policy. The reason is that SDoH impact various aspects of our daily lives, including how and why some people use psychoactive substances and/or develop problems associated with substance use. As you progress through the course material this semester, you will discover that using a health-oriented lens will aid you in developing a better understanding of, and critical engagement with, a variety of issues pertaining to drugs, drug use, and drug policy.

According to the World Health Organization (n.d., para. 1), “the social determinants of health…are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes” (i.e., the conditions in which we live, grow, work and play, including social forces such as economic policies and political systems). These factors may lead to the implementation of social policies that harm our health (e.g., prohibitionist substance control policies). But they can also lead to the development of policies and programs that reduce health risks (e.g., access to reasonably priced healthy safe food and affordable housing), including reducing risks to people who use drugs/substances (PWUD/PWUS) (i.e., drug testing services, elimination of simple drug possession offences) and/or those experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) (e.g., evidence-based drug education, safe consumption sites, safe drug supply). The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate an understand of the SDoH and how they can impact the health of individuals in both positive and negative ways, including the development of SUDs.