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. 2021 Jan;19(1):184-200.
doi: 10.11124/JBISRIR-D-19-00296.

Legal approaches and government policies enacted to address the overdose epidemic: a scoping review protocol

Colleen Pawliuk  1 , Mina Park  2 , Jane A Buxton  2   3 ; Overdose Crisis Knowledge Synthesis Working Group
Affiliations

Legal approaches and government policies enacted to address the overdose epidemic: a scoping review protocol

Colleen Pawliuk et al. JBI Evid Synth. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to map different past and present legal approaches and government policies that have an intended or unintended effect on the ongoing overdose epidemic.

Introduction: In response to the current overdose epidemic, a number of different legal approaches and government policies have been implemented regarding prescription drugs, illicit substances, and drug use. Additionally, other legal approaches and government policies that do not directly target the overdose crisis (eg, cannabis legalization) may have unintentional effects on opioid use-related harms. The findings of this review will inform policy-makers and individuals working at the forefront of the overdose crisis to help them anticipate the consequences of legal approaches already in place or those that have been recently implemented.

Inclusion criteria: This review will include all legal approaches or government policies that have an intended or unintended effect on the overdose epidemic or on opioid use-related harms or mortality. Only studies published in English from 2000 onward will be included.

Methods: We will search health sciences databases, legal databases, and social sciences databases to ensure comprehensive identification of studies across disciplines. Two independent team members will screen titles and abstracts, and review full-text articles for potential inclusion. One team member will extract data for all studies, and a second team member will verify the data extraction. The results will be presented as a narrative synthesis and in tabular or diagrammatic form.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

    1. World Health Organization. Information sheet on opioid overdose [Internet]. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2018 [cited 14 Feb 2020]. Available from: https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/information-sheet/en/.
    1. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Drug-related deaths and mortality in Europe [Internet]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union; 2019 [cited 2020 Feb 2014]. Available from: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/11485/20193286_TD0....
    1. Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to opioid poisoning in Canada [Internet]. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2016 [cited 2 Jul 2019]. Available from: https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/Opioid%20Poisoning%20Report%20%20EN....
    1. Government of Canada. Canada's opioid crisis [Internet]. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada; 2019 [cited 14 Feb 2020]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/publications/....
    1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality. CDC WONDER [Internet]. Atlanta, GA; US Department of Health and Human Services; 2018 [cited 7 Aug 2019]. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov.

Publication types

Grants and funding