The Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation at MAP conducts systematic reviews on an ongoing basis. Our goal is to identify, generate and point policy-makers to the best-available evidence to guide drug policies.
A systematic review is a scientific study that follows a carefully defined, methodical process to search for and critically appraise the results of all existing research studies on a specific topic. Systematic reviews are considered to be excellent tools to support decision-making. This is because they describe a body of best-available research on a topic, rather than the results of a single experiment.
Our systematic reviews analyze the effectiveness of policies and interventions that aim to prevent, treat, or reduce harms related to problematic substance use.
By developing a strong body of evidence to identify the most impactful strategies – as well as potentially wasteful or harmful interventions – these studies are powerful tools to help advance evidence-based drug policies that promote health and human rights.
Our systematic reviews so far include:
- The experience of initiating injection drug use and its social context: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis
- The effectiveness of compulsory drug treatment: A systematic review
- Topiramate for cocaine dependence: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Interventions to prevent the initiation of injection drug use: A systematic review
- Effect of drug law enforcement on drug market violence: A systematic review
- The effectiveness of anti-illicit-drug public-service announcements: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Health outcomes associated with methamphetamine use among young people: A systematic review
