HRB 2022 Integrative review on placed-based and other geographically defined responses to drug-related threats in communities

Tender description

The Health Research Board (HRB) is Ireland’s lead public funding agency supporting innovative health research and delivering data and evidence that improves people’s health and patient care. We are committed to putting people first, and ensuring data and evidence are used in policy and practice to overcome health challenges, advance health systems, and benefit society and the economy. The HRB’s mission is to support research that improves people's health, promotes evidence-informed care and creates solutions to societal challenges. An overview of the HRB’s objectives and activities may be found in The HRB Strategy 2021-2025, Health research - making an impact, (https://www.hrb.ie/strategy-2025/). The Health Research Board invites tenders by open competition to write review on placed-based and other geographically defined responses to drug-related threats in communities. As in other field in population health, responses to health and social problems associated with drug use should involve identification and detailed description of the problem, selecting and then implementing, monitoring and evaluating these interventions. A key element in successive Irish drugs strategies has been the successful coordination of non-governmental and state actors and both community and regional level. Action 4.1.39 of the Strategy requires the Department of Health to: Support and promote community participation in all local, regional and national structures. This integrative review will examine the international evidence on geographically defined interventions in prevention, harm reduction, treatment and public safety. The approach will be shaped by the EMCDDA's Action Framework for developing and implementing responses to drug problems, which involves the following steps: • identifying the nature of the problems to be addressed; • selecting potentially effective interventions to tackle these problems; and • implementing, monitoring and evaluating the impact of these interventions.