Managed Alcohol Programme
Managed Alcohol Programme
Our MAP Service is a new, fresh approach to supporting people with experience of homelessness and alcohol dependancy.
A service that offers what some people need
Simon Community Scotland introduced Scotland’s first Managed Alcohol Programme (MAP) in 2021. This ten bedroom, trauma informed service is here to support men who are experiencing homelessness and are alcohol dependent, have experienced various attempts at other treatments and do not wish to stop drinking.
Our evidence-based harm reduction approach gives the people that we support the opportunity to:
- live in a place that they call home
- control their alcohol intake through an agreed alcohol plan with support from our team
- engage with a range of primary care services that improves health and wellbeing
- eat on a regular basis
- participate in a range of activities including music tuition and digital inclusion
- reconnect with family and friends
All in a place where they feel safe.
Comfortable, stress-free living
“I am enjoying my time at the service. If I am going through a difficult time, staff are always there to help and support me. I have never had this kind of support that staff do listen to me and understand what I have been through.” - Someone we support
The service has been designed to a very high level that ensures the men live in a comfortable and stress-free environment. The MAP service offers a creative and innovative way of helping them to drink less harmful and hazardous amounts of alcohol, while engaging with primary care services looking after their health needs.
BBC Scotland produced this feature on MAP in February 2023.
"I have been inspired by the way the team provides expert care to the most excluded individuals in our society. They have and continue to show leadership in their daily practice by making the MAP service a truly creative and innovative service"
- Peter Mclachlan, Service Lead for our MAP Service
How MAP is making a difference
Evidence from our first year of operations demonstrated staggering results, which continue as we embed this service. There are staggering benefits for people we support and for Scotland more widely.
- Through MAP we are helping to improve the quality of life of the people that we support, including reducing their feelings of stigma, isolation and marginalisation
- We have helped reduce alcohol withdrawals and seizures, A&E admissions, alcohol consumption, street drinking, antisocial behaviour and the financial cost to our services.
Karyn McCluskey, one of our board members and the head of Community Justice Scotland, has been part of the team that is behind piloting the Canadian model here in Scotland.
During the pilot stage, Karen analysed the cost to emergency services of these men street-drinking before they entered the project. In a BBC interview Karen gave a powerful example:
“One of the men that I looked at had been taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary by ambulance over 400 times in a period of two and a bit years. That is extortionate. I mean serious amounts of money. Probably millions.”
Not only is the service bringing positive impacts for people. It is also reducing the burden on some key public services, saving money and creating opportunities for others to get support from these services.
“Supporting the men and seeing how well they are doing makes me feel that we are making a difference. It's amazing to be involved in the service” – Simon Community team member
Dive deeper and learn more
- Peter Mclachlan, Service Lead for our MAP Service, wrote this blog for Scottish Health Action On Alcohol Problems.
- Visit our page explaining our approach to harm reduction.
