Substance Abuse Amongst Refugee Youth: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review Identify and map health, economic, and social consequences of substance abuse, especially because the impacts of substance abuse can adversely and disproportionally affect refugee youth. This scoping review was conducted to exhibit gaps in the literature on the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and interventions of substance abuse among refugee youth to provide a better understanding of the social determinants of this public health crisis. Findings A systematic search for studies on EBSCOhost databases, MEDLINE, and Scopus retrieved 300 citations. Following a systematic screening, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings from the studies suggest the prevalence of substance abuse amongst refugee youth is exacerbated by several risk factors such as coping with pre- and post-migration experiences, accessibility and availability of substances, and socialisation with peers. Evidence shows that refugee youth suffer negative consequences because of substance abuse. However, they also show a lack of focus on interventions to mitigate the prevalence and negative consequences. Summary Literature generally suggests that the presence of substance abuse amongst refugee youth leads to negative consequences. This finding is especially concerning given the lack of knowledge about mitigation strategies and the identification of several risk factors associated with substance abuse. Therefore, increased attention must be placed on substance abuse amongst refugee youth, especially noting the rising prevalence of global refugee migration.