The Effect of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol on Prescriptions for Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Citation

Manca F, Zhang L, Fitzgerald N, Mackay D, McAuley A, Sharp C & Lewsey J (2023) The Effect of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol on Prescriptions for Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01070-6

Abstract
In 2018, Scotland introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol to reduce alcohol-related harms. We aimed to study the association between MUP introduction and the volume of prescriptions to treat alcohol dependence, and volume of new patients receiving such prescriptions. We also examined whether effects varied across different socio-economic groups. A controlled interrupted time series was used to examine variations of our two outcomes. The same prescriptions in England and prescriptions for methadone in Scotland were used as controls. There was no evidence of an association between MUP implementation and the volume of prescriptions for alcohol dependence (immediate change: 2.74%, 95% CI: -0.068 0.014; slope change: 0% 95%CI: -0.001 0.000). A small, significant increase in slope in number of new patients receiving prescriptions was observed (0.2% 95%CI: 0.001 0.003). However, no significant results were confirmed after robustness checks. We found also no variation across different socioeconomic groups.

Keywords
Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol; alcohol dependence prescriptions; Scotland; alcohol use disorder; interrupted time series; natural experiment

Journal
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

People

Professor Niamh Fitzgerald

Professor, Institute for Social Marketing

Ms Clare Sharp

Research Assistant, Institute for Social Marketing