Alcohol identification and brief advice in England’s criminal justice system: a review of the evidence

Abstract

Background: Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) in England have a prevalence rate of about 27% in the general population. There is good evidence to suggest that Alcohol Identification and Brief Advice (IBA) delivered in health-care settings reduces both consumption and related harms. Criminal Justice Settings offer opportunities for the identification of AUDs and afford a “teachable moment” where a link is made between alcohol use and consequence at which to deliver appropriate interventions. Objective: To identify areas in the English Criminal Justice System where the deployment of alcohol screening and brief interventions could reduce alcohol consumption and related harms. Methods: A rapid literature review for the prevalence of alcohol use disorders and the effectiveness of screening and brief interventions in criminal justice settings as well as conducting telephone interviews of key informant interviews. Conclusion: With young offenders, there is a lack of trials and none from the U.K. With AssestPlus screening it would appear more feasible to conduct a trial here than in other criminal justice settings which may offer an advantage than other settings.