Severe Alcohol Use Disorder and No Place to Live: Are Managed Alcohol Programs the Way Forward?

Authors

1.Dr. Gabriela Novotna (⚑ Canada) 1

1. University of Regina

Abstract

People who experience homelessness and struggle with alcohol addiction are at significant risk of life-threatening health problems. They often face mistreatment and use unsafe substances, such as non-beverage alcohol (mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, cooked wine), as a substitute for regular alcoholic drinks. Heavy consumption of non-beverage alcohol often has far more toxic effects on a person and can lead to unconsciousness, poisoning, injuries, and other health risks, including death. Although there are treatment approaches or interventions to assist those with chronic and severe alcohol use disorders in moderating their intake of alcohol, not all individuals receiving those interventions respond well.

In this presentation, we will present a result of a rapid review that explored the Managed Alcohol Programs, mostly in North America, designed to address non-beverage alcohol consumption in populations that are most vulnerable due to their severe alcohol use and usually experience homelessness. This presentation offers an overview of the extant research on Managed Alcohol Programs (MAPs), and it will discuss both the benefits and challenges of this intervention in general and in the context of COVID-19 lockdowns. The broad recommendations regarding this novel intervention will be offered.