Interventions for people with alcohol use disorders and an intellectual disability: A review of the literature

Abstract

Alcohol is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in the general population, and alcohol use disorders are among the most common forms of mental illness. Prolonged heavy drinking can cause cognitive and physical impairment, and is associated with other mental disorders. There are a number of additional issues concerning problematic alcohol use that are of particular significance to those with an intellectual disability, particularly concerning the unique medical and psychological effects of prolonged alcohol use among this population, and the social and political context in which problematic alcohol use occurs. This paper presents an outline of the interventions that may be appropriate for an adult with an alcohol use disorder and an intellectual disability. Future research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of interventions with this client group.