Social Determinants Of Public Health

Words: 217
Pages: 1

The public health issue of illicit drug use and addictions is prevalent in today’s social and political climate across Canada, while certain provinces in Western Canada experience the issue more intensely. The three major political ideologies in Canada, conservatism, liberalism, and socialism, and the parties that manifest these ideologies would view and address this issue in distinct manners. Specifically, neoliberalism and social democratic ideology have unique historical and philosophical underpinnings that would lead to opposing outlooks of illicit drug use and addictions as a social determinant of health. While social democrats would see it as an issue rooted in unequal opportunities, a neoliberal would believe this is an issue of individual choice and accountability. …show more content…
A social democratic response would revolve around public investment and regulation of treatment, harms reduction, prevention, enforcement, and programs and services targeted are the social determinants of health that shape drug use and addictions. On the other hand, a neoliberal response would likely market-driven actions, like encouraging individuals to address personal choice through private treatment services and rehabilitation programs, and providing assistance to citizens to participate in and contribute to the market, which may potentially improve the living and social conditions that shape drug use and addictions via employment and