A public health approach to substance use acknowledges the inevitability of substance use in society. A public health approach to prevention is focused on reducing factors which increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder and preventing substance use-related harms, as opposed to preventing substance use itself. (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 2018). While the resources in this section are focused on primary prevention, prevention is accomplished through a variety of interrelated mechanisms, including treatment and harm reduction. Health promotion expands on prevention to work toward the goals of reducing stigma and strengthening health and well-being more broadly. (CCSA, 2014). In addition, this section includes national and provincial substance use statistics as well as substance use data collection tools.
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