Looking Ahead to My Health Promotion Learning Journey

MHST/NURS 631: Health Promotion

Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use

What do you know about this health promotion topic to date?

Here in Canada, we have low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines to help a person who chooses to drink decide when, where, why and how to drink (CCSA, 2018). There was a time, not so long ago, when we asked individuals about drinking habits regarding quantity consumed, and most would deny the actual amount due to feeling judged. These guidelines are helping to normalize discussing alcohol and bring awareness to thinking about personal choices. The pandemic has proven to increase alcohol consumption for Canadians aged 18-54 by 21-25% due to staying at home during Covid-19 (Ottawa, 2020). The reasons for increased consumption are lack of a regular schedule, boredom, and stress (Ottawa, 2020). Now that the pandemic has shifted, and most are returning to regular schedules, I see a need for increased health promotion on this topic. Promoting health needs to be unique and adaptable because every person and situation changes the status quo. The implemented process needs to be re-assessed and monitored as to whether it is sustainable, effective, and fair for all involved. Health promotion should allow people to feel empowered while taking charge and improving their health.

What are my own personal learning goals?

            My learning goals are to gain knowledge on the background efforts to implement health promotion around this topic. I want to learn how to reach populations that may not see their choices as problematic to their health. There is so much unchartered territory that I have yet to unmask, and I look forward to uncovering ways to promote this challenging topic, which is socially normalized.

What am I most excited to learn?

            I am most excited to learn about ways to empower and educate people to help them make the changes that will offer them their best healthy life while promoting positive ways to improve their lifestyle consistently. This doesn’t necessarily mean stopping with alcohol altogether but stopping and thinking before making a choice.

Does anything make me nervous?

            I have never been a person to engage with social media platforms which are the way of the current societal norms, and technology is not my forte. Putting my thoughts in a forum for all to see prompts feelings of fear and vulnerability. I am uncomfortable talking about my personal feelings. Still, I also believe that the only way to make a difference and promote change is to keep speaking out about healthier choices while discussing the more uncomfortable areas of alcohol consumption. While researching this topic, I must look at my own life and those closest to me.

Looking ahead, what will be challenging as I pursue my chosen health promotion topic/project? 

            Although the health topic and effects of the consumption of alcohol are similar, experiences and perspectives will differ for each person. Socially drinking continues to be acceptable and normalized. I can think of countless occasions where drinking was used as a reason to get together and spend time. Social media make light of alcohol and have cute posts that most people react with “likes” and laughs. This will be both challenging and interesting.       

What do I most want to learn more about, and why?

            I want to learn how to promote this health topic while encompassing the diversity of our populations. What is acceptable to one person may not be to another. I would also like to learn how to effectively and professionally deliver the information.

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