Scoping Review: Service-level Barriers to and Facilitators of Access to Services for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder and Problematic Alcohol Use

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, substance use health services to treat alcohol use disorder and problematic alcohol use (AUD/PAU) were fragmented and difficult for clients to access. The pandemic further elucidated system weaknesses, often leading to disruptions of treatment as alcohol use increased during the pandemic. When services for treatment were available, use was often low for several rationale. Virtual care was used to counteract the drop-off of in-person services, however accessibility to virtual care was not universal. Identification of the characteristics of treatment services for AUD/PAU that impact accessibility, as perceived by the individuals accessing or providing the services, will provide insights to enable improved access. We will conduct a scoping review of the literature to identify traits of services for treatment of clients with AUD/PAU that have been identified as barriers to or facilitators of service access from the perspectives of this population.