What do systematic reviews say?

Pharmacologic intervention vs another pharmacologic intervention

Pharmacologic intervention showed no clear difference in retention compared with another pharmacologic intervention (low certainty).

• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.76, 1.19]
  2 studies · 190 participants
  Low
• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.96, 1.08]
  2 studies · 200 participants
  Low

Pharmacologic intervention vs placebo

Pharmacologic intervention showed no clear difference in retention compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.13 [0.89, 1.44]
  3 studies · 247 participants
  Low

Any Psychosocial intervention plus pharm vs psychosocial interventions

Pharmacologic intervention along with psychosocial intervention showed no clear difference in retention compared with psychosocial intervention alone (moderate certainty).

• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.15 [0.95, 1.4]
  3 studies · 363 participants
  Moderate

Other psychosocial intervention vs usual care, brief intervention, or wait list

• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 1664 participants
  Very low

Brief intervention vs brief advice, information, or assessment only

• Psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions to reduce harmful alcohol use in low‐ and middle‐income countries 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  12 studies · 5380 participants
  Very low