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Assertive community treatment (ACT) for substance use disorders

Summary of the evidence

Rating
  • Unknown effectiveness

A systematic review without meta-analysis (Penzenstadler et al 2019, 5 datasets) found no clear superiority of results of assertive community treatment (ACT) in reducing substance use (compared to control group).

ACT originally developed for patients with severe mental illness, providing personalized, high intensity, holistic and integrated multidisciplinary community care services.

Details

Note: this evidence summary is only valid for the outcomes, target groups, settings and substances/patterns of use described below.

Name of response option
  • Assertive community treatment
Desired outcome(s)
  • reduce substance use
Area(s)
  • Treatment
Specific substance or pattern of use
  • alcohol
  • co-morbidity
  • not-drug specific
  • amphetamines
  • cannabis
  • cocaine
  • new psychoactive substances (NPS)
  • opioids
  • prescription medicines
  • tobacco
Target group(s) or setting(s)
  • communities
  • dual-diagnosis patients
  • emergency department
  • ethnic minority
  • families
  • law enforcement
  • pregnant women
  • PWID – people who inject drugs
  • school
  • women
  • prison
  • young people
  • partygoers/nightlife

References

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Miniguides

A one-stop-shop for anyone planning or delivering health and social responses.

 

Implementation

Implementation inventories including Xchange, Healthy Nightlife Toolbox, EUPC and EIB

 

Evidence

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Standards

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