About this seminar
This seminar, titled 'Scotland’s first Managed Alcohol Programme: evaluating the impact to inform future service delivery and research', will be delivered by Dr Emma King, Dr Hannah Carver and Jessica Greenhalgh.
The research project
Managed alcohol programmes (MAPs) are a harm reduction approach specifically designed for people experiencing homelessness as well as alcohol dependence. MAPs provide alcohol in regulated doses through the day, alongside wider support for housing, physical/mental health, welfare, and social connections. Originally developed in Canada in the 1990s MAPs have extended across the world, although are a relatively new initiative for the United Kingdom (UK). Scotland’s first MAP was opened by Simon Community Scotland (SCS) in Glasgow in late 2021 and is a ‘low threshold’, trauma-informed service, with high quality accommodation for 10 men. Our study will provide an independent evaluation of Scotland’s first MAP.
This mixed methods study includes a realist review; a comparison of data on alcohol use and health outcomes for 10 MAP residents and 10 people using other services; photo elicitation using PhotoVoice, alongside in-depth interviews with MAP residents; and interviews with staff and stakeholders. A learning alliance is supporting recruitment and dissemination.
In this seminar, our speakers will present findings from a realist review, to understand what works, for whom and in what circumstances; quantitative data collection, to examine the impact of the MAP on residents’ outcomes compared to locally matched controls; qualitative interviews, to understand the experiences of people living and working in the MAP and living in the local area. They will also reflect on the feasibility of conducting longitudinal, mixed methods research within and about MAPs.
