A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Prevention Approaches for Alcohol Problems with Viability for Military Implementation.

Abstract

Introduction: Hazardous alcohol use in the military exceeds that of the general population and is associated with a host of negative personal, health, social, emotional, and occupational consequences. Prevention is a cost-effective way to reduce problematic drinking. Despite numerous reviews and meta-analyses synthesizing the literature on prevention programs targeting civilians, there is a dearth of such resources specifically targeting active duty service members and other military personnel. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize existing evidence-based prevention programs that have documented success in reducing the onset of alcohol problems in young adults, emphasizing programs that may be implementable in the U.S. military.

Materials and methods: We identified alcohol prevention programs through two methods: we conducted (1) a meta-review of evidence-based prevention programs in clearinghouses and (2) a systematic review of alcohol-prevention evaluations in military settings.

Results: Integrated results review 6 prevention programs that were identified as a good fit based on inclusion criteria (i.e., universal or selective prevention, administrable to individuals or small groups) with sufficient support for effectiveness. All included programs demonstrate research supporting their application in either active duty or veteran populations.

Conclusions: This review adds to the literature by synthesizing the current evidence-based prevention programs targeting the onset of alcohol problems, with an emphasis on those programs that have strong potential for successful implementation among military populations. Specific recommendations and considerations for implementation are provided.