What is a public health approach to substance use? A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

Lit review
by
Crépault, Jean-François et al

Release Date

2023

Geography

International

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

Yes

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

This study systematically reviewed the English-language academic literature to understand how a public health approach to substance use is defined and described.

Findings/Key points

The most commonly cited characteristics of a PHA were: for alcohol, regulation, e.g. of price and availability (54% of articles); for cannabis: regulation (68%); for illicit drugs: that a PHA is distinct from a criminal justice approach (63%); for opioids: substance use disorder treatment (55%); and for tobacco: regulation (62%).

Design/methods

Lit review included 272 articles

Keywords

Policy/Regulatory