Aim: People experiencing homelessness are often excluded from treatment programs for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The goal of this study was to describe the impact of a multidisciplinary treatment program on alcohol consumption and social reintegration in individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness.
Methods: Thirty-one individuals with AUD experiencing homelessness were admitted to an inpatient unit for 5-6 days for clinical evaluation and to treat potential alcohol withdrawal syndrome. A group of volunteers, in collaboration with the Community of Sant'Egidio, provided social support aimed to reintegrate patients. After inpatient discharge, all patients were followed as outpatients. Alcohol intake (number drinks/day), craving and clinical evaluation were assessed at each outpatient visit. Biological markers of alcohol use were evaluated at enrollment (T0), at 6 months (T1) and 12 months (T2).
Results: Compared with T0, patients at T1 showed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3-24) vs 2 (0-10); P = 0.015] and in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78-365) vs 98 (74-254); P = 0.0021]. The reduction in alcohol intake was more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3-20) vs 1 (0-8); P = 0.008]. Similarly, compared with T0, patients at T2 showed significant reduction in alcohol consumption [10 (3-24) vs 0 (0-15); P = 0.001], more pronounced in patients with any housing condition [10 (3-20) vs 0 (0-2); P = 0.006]. Moreover, at T2 patients showed a significant reduction in γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase [187 (78-365) vs 97 (74-189); P = 0.002] and in mean cell volume [100.2 (95-103.6) vs 98.3 (95-102); P = 0.042].
Conclusion: Patients experiencing homelessness may benefit from a multidisciplinary treatment program for AUD. Strategies able to facilitate and support their social reintegration and housing can improve treatment outcomes.
© The Author(s) 2020. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.