Public Health Approaches To Substance Use

"Proponents of public health approaches differ in their general views of substance use, ranging from broad disapproval (Gostin & Lazzarini, 1997) to the suggestion of potential benefits (Jonas, 1994); accordingly, some calls for a public health approach focus on prevention and treatment (McLellan, 2017), while others emphasize harm reduction (Sweanor et al., 2007). Even among calls for a public health approach to opioids in North America, definitions range from those narrowly focused on population-level prevention via surveillance and research (Joranson & Gilson, 2006) to expansive ones that include a commitment to the principles of social justice, human rights, and equity (Emerson & Haden, 2021). So while public health approaches to substance use are frequently called for, what they are—or should be—remains unclear."