Seasonal Variations in Treatment Seeking for Alcohol Use Disorder in the Total Danish Population

A significant number of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) do not seek treatment, and the factors influencing treatment-seeking behavior are not well understood. While it is known that alcohol consumption levels can fluctuate with the seasons, the impact of these seasonal changes on seeking treatment for AUD remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether there are seasonal patterns in the pursuit of treatment for AUD.

To investigate this, researchers conducted a time-series analysis involving adults in Denmark aged 18 and older who sought treatment for AUD. They focused on two key indicators of treatment-seeking behavior: the number of new treatment entries in specialist addiction care and the number of prescriptions filled for AUD medications. Data for the study were drawn from the National Alcohol Treatment Register and the National Prescription Registry, covering the period from 2013 to 2018. The analysis was carried out using a segmented negative binomial regression model.

The results revealed distinct seasonal trends in treatment-seeking behavior. The lowest rates of treatment entry and filled prescriptions occurred in December and between March and April. In contrast, the highest rate of treatment-seeking was observed in January. There was also a decline around July, followed by a slight increase from August to October.

These findings highlight the importance of considering seasonal and contextual factors when designing and evaluating interventions aimed at encouraging more individuals to seek treatment for AUD. Understanding these patterns could help in developing strategies that align with the natural fluctuations in treatment-seeking behavior throughout the year.