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Alcohol screening and brief intervention in a policing context: A mixed methods feasibility study
Nicola Brown1, Dorothy Newbury-Birch, Ruth McGovern
1Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Drug and Alcohol Review
|October 27, 2010
Summary
Detention Officers can deliver alcohol screening and brief intervention (ASBI) to arrestees. This pilot study shows ASBI is feasible in policing settings, offering a foundation for future research on alcohol-related offending.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Alcohol misuse is strongly linked to offending behaviour, consuming 25% of police resources.
- Individuals arrested for alcohol-related offences present a unique opportunity for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing alcohol screening and brief intervention (ASBI) within a police station setting.
- To explore the acceptability of ASBI among detainees and the feasibility of its delivery by police staff.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 10 Detention Officers (DOs) trained to deliver ASBI to detainees arrested for public order or assault offences.
- Data collection included detainee screening, intervention delivery, and in-depth interviews with DOs.
Main Results:
- 33% of eligible detainees participated; 59% screened positive for alcohol use disorder.
- 98% of those screening positive were willing to receive brief intervention.
- DOs had mixed views on ASBI's appropriateness within the policing context.
Conclusions:
- Detention Officers can feasibly deliver ASBI in a policing environment with limited training.
- Findings support further research into the effectiveness of ASBI in this setting.
- The ethical considerations of coercion in ASBI require further investigation.
