Health Promotion Strategy

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY
HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY
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HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY
Introduction
In Australia, spirits were the most commonly consumed alcoholic drink from the early
colonization of the country to the late 19th century and was predominantly used in the New
South Wales and estimated as 13.6 litres of pure alcohol in the early conservative data consumed
by every inhabitant in each year. Fluctuations continued in the alcohol consumptions through 19th
century due to several demographic and economic changes. Several social and moral changes
contributed to the Australian drinking culture with no women banned from consuming alcohol.
Although, several initiatives were taken by the Australian government by spreading awareness
among populations about the risks associated with alcohol consumptions, drinking patterns are
still noticed to be increasing progressively with time both among males and females
(Health.gov.au, 2019). Over the past century, consumption rates of alcohol and an increased
recognition of alcohol's contribution to chronic health issues and long-term health problems have
increasingly become the main concern. Since 1985, alcohol and other drug use patterns in
Australian populations have been monitored by the National Drug Strategy, using periodic
domestic polls. Through the analysis of 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey Data,
the number of current drinkers who were at a maximum risk of developing chronic diseases was
estimated as 5.7% and about 3.1% were found to be at a high risk of chronic harm
(Health.gov.au, 2019). Therefore, Australian Government Department of Health has planned
strategies for reducing the risks of alcohol associated harms and works along with several
organizations of Australia to address the problem and implement the health promotion strategies.

HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGY
Discussion
National drug strategy in Australia is a government initiative that identifies the national
priorities related with consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and guides the
government in joint venture with both the service providers as well as the community by
outlining a national commitment of minimizing the damage related to alcohol consumption
through the adoption of demand, supply and harm prevention strategies (Health.gov.au, 2019).
The National drug strategy in Australia aims at building a safe and a healthy community in
Australia by preventing and reducing physical, social, economic and cultural harms associated
with alcohol consumption, tobacco and other drugs among individual, their families and
community as a whole(Health.gov.au, 2019).
The main principles of alcohol and other substance related illness prevention or health
promotion strategies include three main points.
Demand Reduction- Through the prevention of uptake or hindrance in the alcohol
consumption onset, thereby, decreasing alcohol, tobacco and other drugs misuse in the
community and supporting people for the recovery from dependence with the help of evidence
informed treatment.
Supply Reduction- Preventing or decreasing the production as well as supply of harmful
drugs illegally and managing and controlling the availability of legal drugs.
Harm Reduction- Preventing the adverse health, economic and social consequences
leading to impairment of a normal lifestyle due to the consumption of drugs, tobacco and other
drugs for the individuals, their family and the community.