As alcohol use continues to increase, so does the prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD), which can severely affect an individual’s health, and ability to work, and maintain their personal, social, and professional responsibilities. Even moderate drinkers who binge on the weekends are at risk of developing alcohol problems.
Employers are at risk too — employees who struggle with alcohol or who are at risk for AUD may have multiple issues in the workplace. They may not be as productive or satisfied in the workplace — issues that may spill over across teams, resulting in department-wide loss of productivity, low employee satisfaction, and lower retention rates.
Employers looking to address this issue and better serve employees with behavioral and mental health benefits must choose the right treatment program that will actually give employees the support they need in the way they want it.
However, too often, treatment programs that can serve those struggling with AUD don’t take into account the goals members want. Instead, they’re part of a broad-reaching addiction program that, unfortunately, doesn’t result in positive outcomes for those struggling with AUD. Or they may have accessibility problems that result in lower adoption rates— ultimately, affecting how effective the treatment can be.
When choosing the right AUD treatment program, employers need to consider treatment methods and preferences potential members want in order to increase adoption and usage.
What makes for an effective alcohol use disorder treatment?
When considering the right AUD program, employers should look at the following.
Does it serve members in the way they want?
An AUD program is only effective if people use it. Research, including our own, shows that people who are struggling with AUD have specific preferences that make program adoption more likely. People have their own priorities when it comes to treatment goals, whether experts have AUD specific experience, and treatment methods.
Is it accessible?
Accessibility is a major impediment for many people struggling with AUD, which is largely why traditional in-personcenters are ineffective. Conflicting hours and location-based problems can hinder program effectiveness. Employer-based treatment programs need to take into account employee hours and availability.
Is it evidence-based?
Surprisingly, not all AUD treatment options are using evidence-based methods that promote positive outcomes in patients such as alcohol cessation or consumption reduction. Employers should assess whether a program is adopting the most up-to-date protocols known to be effective based on scientific research and literature.
What members really want from an AUD treatment program
In our latest white paper, we wanted to get a better understanding of what people struggling with AUD — and those who have loved ones in similar struggles — are looking for in their AUD treatment program. Our survey results highlight several preferences across treatment types and methods.
Download our white paper to learn:
- Whether abstinence is an effective goal for AUD treatment programs
- How accessibility issues continue to affect program usage
- Consumer preferences on treatment methods and expert experience.
Learn more about our findings by downloading our white paper today.
