Barriers to alcohol intervention program: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Excessive alcohol consumption is a global health crisis, causing significant mortality and morbidity.
• The World Health Organization has outlined strategies to mitigate alcohol's negative impacts.
• Existing alcohol intervention programs face implementation challenges impacting their effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize barriers to the successful implementation of alcohol intervention programs.
• To inform strategies for improving alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment and cessation support.
• To synthesize current literature on challenges in alcohol intervention delivery.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations.
• Eligibility criteria included participants, concepts, and context (PCC) for relevant studies.
• Literature search focused on English-language original research from 2014-2024, yielding 19 eligible studies from over 5,000 initially identified.

Main Results:

• Five primary categories of barriers were identified: service-level, care-seeking, stigma, socio-cultural, and external barriers.
• Service and external barriers require robust regulatory and implementation strategies.
• Barriers to care seeking necessitate improved alcohol screening, strict AUD policies, and accessible alternatives.

Conclusions:

• Overcoming implementation barriers is essential for effective alcohol intervention programs.
• Addressing stigma and socio-cultural norms through public health initiatives is vital.
• Multi-faceted approaches involving communities and workplaces are needed to reduce alcohol-related harm.