3.3 Social Determinants of Health & Substance Use
Substance use is a social factor that influences individual health, functioning, and quality of life. It is also highly impacted by SDoH (Cantu et al., 2020). As noted in the Government of Canada report Public Consolation on Strengthening Canada’s Approach to Substance Use Issues (2018, para. 9), “determinants of health are often at the root of problematic substance use.”
VIDEO: Social Determinants of Health & Substance Use
The following video clip explains some of the social conditions that may increase the risks of substance use, and how upstream intervention supports PWUS.
VIDEO: Upstream Intervention & Substance Use
The following video clip provides an example of how upstream thinking can facilitate an understanding of the social conditions that may lead to a person experiencing a SUD. Upstream interventions are an essential part of addressing such issues.
