Understanding low treatment seeking rates for alcohol use disorder: A narrative review of the literature and opportunities for improvement

Despite a well-documented global burden of disease attributable to alcohol use disorder (AUD), treatment seeking rates remain low. In this qualitative literature review, we address treatment seeking for AUD from a host of perspectives and summarize the literature on key factors. First, we summarize...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse 2021-11, Vol.47 (6), p.664-679
Main Authors: Venegas, Alexandra, Donato, Suzanna, Meredith, Lindsay R., Ray, Lara A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol Drinking
alcohol use disorder
Alcoholism - epidemiology
Alcoholism - therapy
barriers
Humans
individual differences
Surveys and Questionnaires
treatment seeking
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Summary:Despite a well-documented global burden of disease attributable to alcohol use disorder (AUD), treatment seeking rates remain low. In this qualitative literature review, we address treatment seeking for AUD from a host of perspectives and summarize the literature on key factors. First, we summarize the rates of alcohol treatment seeking across various epidemiological surveys, spanning decades. Second, we discuss the definition of treatment seeking and 'what' is typically considered formal treatment. Third, we consider timing and discuss 'when' individuals are most likely to seek treatment. Fourth, we review the literature on 'who' is most likely to seek treatment, including demographic and clinical correlates. Fifth, we address the critical question of 'why' so few people receive clinical services for AUD, relative to the number of individuals affected by the disorder, and review barriers to treatment seeking at the treatment- and person-levels of analysis. Finally, we identify opportunities to improve treatment seeking rates by focusing on tangible points of intervention. Specifically, we recommend a host of adaptations to models of care including efforts to make treatment more appealing across stages of AUD severity, accept a range of health-enhancing drinking goals as opposed to an abstinence-only model, educate providers and consumers about evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological treatments, and incentivize the delivery of evidence-based services.
ISSN:0095-2990
1097-9891
1097-9891
DOI:10.1080/00952990.2021.1969658