The Alcohol Treatment Matrix is concerned with the treatment of alcohol-related problems among adults (another deals with drug-related problems). It maps the treatment universe and for each sub-territory (a cell) lists the most important UK-relevant research and guidance. Across the top, columns move from specific interventions through how their impacts are affected by the widening contexts of practitioners, management, the organisation, and whole local area treatment systems. Down the rows are the major intervention types implemented at these levels. Inside each cell is our pick of the most important documents relevant to the impact of that intervention type at that contextual level. 

What is this cell about? Therapies (cell A5) and therapists (cell B5) matter of course, but so do the management functions of selecting, training and managing staff, and managing the intervention programme. In highly controlled studies, it may be possible to divorce the impact of an intervention from the management of the service delivering it, but in everyday practice, whether interventions get adopted and adequately implemented, and whether staff are able to develop and maintain appropriate attitudes and knowledge, depend on (document listed on website) management and supervision.

This cell is about the role played by these management functions in treatment organised and/or funded by criminal justice and other authorities, whose primary aim is to safeguard those in contact with the patient or the wider community. In these contexts, typically treatment is offered or imposed not because it has been sought by the patient, but because it is thought that treating their drinking problems could cut crime, safeguard the drinker’s family, and prevent harm to others through drink-driving or other alcohol-affected behaviour. Even when treatment has been organised primarily to benefit the patient rather than their family or the broader community, these benefits may nevertheless emerge, so this cell may also include studies which document the community and family impacts of treatment in general.