My Health Promotion Journey

The health promotion topic I am interested in pursuing on my learning journey in MHST 631 is the toxic drug crisis occurring in British Columbia’s (BC) Northern Health Authority (NHA); in particular, within the context of the high rate of deaths due to unregulated drug use in private residents (BC Coroners Service, 2024). The BC Coroners Service reports that the majority of unregulated drug overdose deaths in BC involve men that use drugs indoors and alone (2019). Dating back to 2021, 56% of unregulated drug deaths in the NHA occurred in private residents (BC Coroners Service, 2024). Deaths occurring in private residents across NHA are disproportionately higher than other settings such as alternative residents and outside environments, which represent 23% and 16% of locations where unregulated drug overdose deaths occur, respectively (BC Coroners Service, 2024).

In embarking on this topic, I believe I have a number of areas to learn about. I believe it is necessary to examine factors that contribute to unregulated drug use in private residents, to review the literature for ‘upstream’ evidence-based approaches and/or interventions to mitigate the issue, and to explore what, if any, health promotion efforts have been taken by the NHA to address unregulated drug use in private settings. Upon completion of these learning activities, I am hopeful that I will have established a few potential actions along with how to proceed with them to address the ongoing disproportionate rate of opioid overdose deaths occurring in private residents in the NHA.

Reflecting on the expectations of this assignment, and MHST 631 for that matter, I believe my biggest challenge will be appropriately applying the foundational health promotion concepts to my area(s) of interest. Reason being, health promotion to date has not been an intuitive area of study for me. I am hoping that as we progress through the course my understanding of health promotion and how to apply related concepts improves.  

Brad

References:

BC Coroners Service. (2019). Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC: January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2018. Https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/birth-adoption-death-marriage-and-divorce/deaths/coroners-service/statistical/illicit-drug.pdf

BC Coroners Service. (2024, August 20). Unregulated Drug Deaths – Place of Injury. https://app.powerbi.com/view?=eyJrIjoiMDg2ZGZmOGItZGQ1Ny00NTY3LThiYmEtYmExN2M0YmFjYTUxIiwidCI6IjZmZGI1MjAwLTNkMGQtNGE4YS1iMDM2LWQzNjg1ZTM1OWFkYyJ9