{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02810810810810811, 'fraction_numerical': 0.006486486486486486, 'mean_word_length': 5.634408602150538, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research on Substance Use among Refugees.

AIMS
To evaluate qualitative research on substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) among refugees in terms of practitioners' and substance users' attitudes, beliefs, and experiences.


METHODS
Six medical, allied health, and social sciences databases (EBSCO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scholar, and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched in a time frame between January and April 2021 to identify original peer-reviewed articles describing qualitative findings related to substance use among refugees (alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco, and prescription drugs). Study selection, critical appraisal and detailed extraction were performed via the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports according to PRISMA (2018). Three independent reviewers selected the relevant abstracts and articles. Synthesis of the evidence identified prominent themes relating to the context and consequences of substance use.


RESULTS
Twenty-six studies were included in this review. Twenty-three studies applied qualitative methods and three applied mixed methods. Synthesis of the evidence from the included studies resulted in four main findings: (1) there is a considerable susceptibility of refugees to substance use and SUDs; (2) the harmful consequences of substance use are complicated by the social insecurities of refugees; (3) there are rather high barriers to treatment and health facilities for refugees in many host countries; and (4) there is a strong need to improve effective access to treatment, interventions, and prevention approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
Refugees are at high risk for substance use and substance use disorders and often face high barriers to treatment and interventions in host countries.