Cited by 207Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesMental Health Treatment and AccessAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Treatment rates for alcohol use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mekonen, Tesfa, Chan, Gary C. K., Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Hides, Leanne, Leung, Janni·2021·Addiction

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the treatment rate for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in the general adult population. Treatment rates were also considered in relation to economic differences. Methods: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases to identify studies that reported treatment rates for alcohol use disorders in the general population. Independent reviewers screened the articles based on predefined inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. We conducted quality assessments of the included studies. The overall treatment rates were estimated from studies that reported any treatment for AUDs from healthcare or informal non‐healthcare settings (any treatment). We estimated the separate treatment rates for each diagnostic category as reported in the primary studies: AUD as a single disorder, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. Data were pooled using a random‐effect model. Results: Thirty‐two articles were included to estimate the treatment rates (percentage treated among the total number of people with AUDs). The pooled estimate of people with AUDs who received any treatment were 14.3% (95% CI: 9.3–20.3%) for alcohol abuse, 16.5% (95% CI: 12–21.5%) for alcohol dependence and 17.3% (95% CI: 12.8–22.3%) for AUD. A subgroup analysis by World Bank economic classification of countries found that the treatment rate for AUD was 9.3% (95% CI: 4.0–15.7%) in low and lower‐middle‐income countries. Conclusion: Globally, approximately one in six people with AUDs receives treatment. Treatment rates for AUDs are generally low, with even lower rates in low and lower‐middle‐income countries.

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Crossref · 10.1111/add.15357

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  • The SUD treatment gap among college students is larger than the treatment gap observed among non-students in this sample (8.1%), the general US population, and other subpopulations of people with SUDs, including young adults.

    “This discrepancy is larger than the treatment gap observed among non-students in this sample (8.1 %), the general US population, and other subpopulations of people with SUDs, including young adults (Krawczyk et al., 2022, Mekonen et al., 2021, Sahker et al., 2024).”

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Authors
Mekonen, T., Chan, G. C. K., Connor, J., Hall, W., Hides, L., & Leung, J.
Affiliations
The University of Queensland (AU)
Corresponding author
Mekonen, Tesfa
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-01-12
Volume
116
Issue
10
Pages
2617-2634
ISSN
  • 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0443
OpenAlex
W3108307430
Cited by
207
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 31 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 14
FWCI
3.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
alcoholism, treatment rates, alcohol abuse, global prevalence, low- and middle-income countries
MeSH terms
Adult, Alcoholism, Humans

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