Abstract
BackgroundProblem alcohol use is common among illicit drug users and is associated with adverse health outcomes. It is also an important factor in poor prognosis among drug users with hepatitis C virus (HCV) as it impacts progression to hepatic cirrhosis or opiate overdose in opioid users. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects of psychosocial interventions for problem alcohol use in adult illicit drug users with concurrent problem alcohol use (principally, problem drug users of opiates and stimulants).MethodsWe searched the following databases (November 2011): Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and reference list of articles. We also searched conference proceedings and online registers of clinical trials. Two reviewers independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data from included randomized controlled trials.ResultsFour studies (594 participants) were included in this review. Half of the trials were rated as having a high or unclear risk of bias. The four studies considered six different psychosocial interventions grouped into four comparisons: 1) cognitive-behavioral coping skills training versus 12-step facilitation (N = 41), 2) brief intervention versus treatment as usual (N = 110), 3) hepatitis health promotion versus motivational interviewing (N = 256), and 4) brief motivational intervention versus assessment-only group (N = 187). Differences between studies precluded any pooling of data. Findings are described for each trial individually. Most findings were not statistically significant except for comparison 2: decreased alcohol use at three months (risk ratio (RR) 0.32; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19 to 0.54) and nine months (RR 0.16; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.33) in the treatment-as-usual group and comparison 4: reduced alcohol use in the brief motivational intervention (RR 1.67; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.60).ConclusionsNo conclusion can be made because of the paucity of the data and the low quality of the retrieved studies.
Highlights
Problem alcohol use is common among illicit drug users and is associated with adverse health outcomes
The studies assessed the effectiveness of six psychosocial interventions: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), 12-step facilitation (TSF), Brief interventions (BI), hepatitis health promotion (HHP), motivational interviewing (MI), and brief motivational intervention (BMI)
The studies assessed the effectiveness of six psychosocial interventions: CBT, 12step facilitation (TSF), BI, HHP, MI, and BMI
Summary
Problem alcohol use is common among illicit drug users and is associated with adverse health outcomes. It is an important factor in poor prognosis among drug users with hepatitis C virus (HCV) as it impacts progression to hepatic cirrhosis or opiate overdose in opioid users. Problem alcohol use is common among illicit drug users and is associated with adverse health outcomes, which include physical, psychological and social implications [1,2,3,4]. Problem alcohol use is an important factor in determining poor prognosis among people with HCV as it impacts progression to hepatic cirrhosis, increased HCV-ribonucleic acid (RNA) levels or fatal opiate overdose in opiate users [8,9]. See the review by Amato et al [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
