Scoping review of managed alcohol programs

Shannon M Smith-Bernardin; Leslie W Suen; Jill Barr-Walker; Isabel Arrellano Cuervo; Margaret A Handley

doi:10.1186/s12954-022-00646-0

Scoping review of managed alcohol programs

Harm Reduct J. 2022 Jul 25;19(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00646-0.

Authors

Shannon M Smith-Bernardin^{1

2}, Leslie W Suen^{3

4}, Jill Barr-Walker⁵, Isabel Arrellano Cuervo⁶, Margaret A Handley^{7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Shannon.smith-bernardin@ucsf.edu.
² UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at ZSFG Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. Shannon.smith-bernardin@ucsf.edu.
³ National Clinician Scholars Program, Philip R. Lee Institute of Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁵ ZSFG Library, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁶ Contra Costa County Family Medicine Residency, Martinez, CA, USA.
⁷ UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at ZSFG Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁹ PRISE Center: Partnerships for Research in Implementation Science for Equity, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Internationally, strategies focusing on reducing alcohol-related harms in homeless populations with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) continue to gain acceptance, especially when conventional modalities focused on alcohol abstinence have been unsuccessful. One such strategy is the managed alcohol program (MAP), an alcohol harm reduction program managing consumption by providing eligible individuals with regular doses of alcohol as a part of a structured program, and often providing resources such as housing and other social services. Evidence to the role of MAPs for individuals with AUD, including how MAPs are developed and implemented, is growing. Yet there has been limited collective review of literature findings.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review to answer, "What is being evaluated in studies of MAPs? What factors are associated with a successful MAP, from the perspective of client outcomes? What are the factors perceived as making them a good fit for clients and for communities?" We first conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, and Google Scholar. Next, we searched the gray literature (through focused Google and Ecosia searches) and references of included articles to identify additional studies. We also contacted experts to ensure relevant studies were not missed. All articles were independently screened and extracted.

Results: We included 32 studies with four categories of findings related to: (1) client outcomes resulting from MAP participation, (2) client experience within a MAP; (3) feasibility and fit considerations in MAP development within a community; and (4) recommendations for implementation and evaluation. There were 38 established MAPs found, of which 9 were featured in the literature. The majority were located in Canada; additional research works out of Australia, Poland, the USA, and the UK evaluate potential feasibility and fit of a MAP.

Conclusions: The growing literature showcases several outcomes of interest, with increasing efforts aimed at systematic measures by which to determine the effectiveness and potential risks of MAP. Based on a harm reduction approach, MAPs offer a promising, targeted intervention for individuals with severe AUD and experiencing homelessness. Research designs that allow for longitudinal follow-up and evaluation of health- and housing-sensitive outcomes are recommended.

Keywords: Alcohol use disorder; Harm reduction; Homelessness; Managed alcohol program; Scoping review.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alcoholism* / therapy
Harm Reduction
Housing
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons*
Substance-Related Disorders*