Article review: Defining a public health approach to substance use: Insights from a systematic scoping review and conceptual framework development approach
Abstract
It is recommended that, in addition to drug policy experts and health policy makers, public health experts, social policy makers, addiction specialists, mental health professionals, criminologists, social workers, community developers, legal advocates, and experts with practical experience also be involved in policy planning and implementation. It is important to keep this principle in mind, even if the government is currently unwilling to adopt such a policy approach. Multidisciplinary cooperation strengthens a public health approach based on justice, health equity, and evidence, and helps to overcome coercive, punitive logic. This broad partnership increases the legitimacy, effectiveness, and sustainability of interventions.
References
Mathias, H., Gehring, N. D., Hammond, R. M., Navarrete, J., Crépault, J.-F., Emerson, B., Markov, A., Kosteniuk, B., Speed, K., Candler, E., Dyck, G., Galarneau, L. R., Issa, T., Ocampo Alvarado, J. C., Campbell, S., & Hyshka, E. (2025). Defining a public health approach to substance use: Insights from a systematic scoping review and conceptual framework development approach. BMC Public Health, 25, 4365. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25402-4
Sandelowski M. (2000). Whatever happened to qualitative description?. Research in nursing & health, 23(4), 334–340. https://doi.org/10.1002/1098-240x(200008)23:4<334::aid-nur9>3.0.co;2-g
Weick, K. E. (1984). Small wins: Redefining the scale of social problems. American Psychologist, 39(1), 40–49. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.39.1.40
