title: Community-based interventions to prevent fatal overdose from illegal drugs: a systematic review protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drug overdose is the most frequent cause of death among people who misuse illegal drugs. People who inject these drugs are 14-17 times more likely to die than their non-drug using peers. Various strategies to reduce drug-related deaths have failed to meet target reductions. Research into community-based interventions for preventing drug overdose deaths is promising. This review seeks to identify published studies describing community-based interventions and to evaluate their effectiveness at reducing drug overdose deaths.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will systematically search key electronic databases using a search strategy which groups terms into four facets: (1) Overdose event, (2) Drug classification, (3) Intervention and (4) Setting. Searches will be limited where possible to international literature published in English between 1998 and 2014. Data will be extracted by two independent reviewers using a predefined table adapted from the Cochrane Collaboration handbook. The quality of included studies will be evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias. We will conduct a meta-analysis for variables which can be compared across studies, using statistical methods to control for heterogeneity where appropriate. Where clinical or statistical heterogeneity prevents a valid numerical synthesis, we will employ a narrative synthesis to describe community-based interventions, their delivery and use and how effectively they prevent fatal overdoses.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  We will publish findings from this systematic review in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and present results at national and international conferences. It will be disseminated electronically and in print.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  PROSPERO CRD42015017833.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Chukwudi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1423-9306
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Okolie
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Bridie Angela
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Blackweir Ambulance Station, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0173-8843
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Snooks
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH