A questionnaire exploring how third sector alcohol support organisations in Scotland meet the needs of people with intellectual disabilities

Background: Previous research has investigated how staff from National Health Service Substance Use Disorder (SUD)services feel about supporting people with intellectual disabilities but has not explored the third (voluntary) sector, usually the main support provider in Scotland for nondependent SUD.
Methods: A questionnaire sent to third sector alcohol support agencies explored: awareness of the needs of people with intellectual disabilities, awareness of other services who can support when working with this group, whether training/adaptations were made to improve accessibility and whether staff hold people with intellectual disabilities in the same regard as people without.
Results: Nineteen participants responded. Most knew what intellectual disabilities were and had supported people with intellectual disabilities. However, other findings suggested the need for more training/input with only 16% having been trained about intellectual disabilities by their organisation, a lack of awareness of potential support from intellectual disabilities services and limited knowledge about tailoring approaches to these people. Only 47% felt their services could adequately support this group. There was not strong evidence of a difference in regard towards people with an alcohol problem with intellectual disabilities compared with those without.
Conclusions: Improved joint working is needed between intellectual disability and alcohol services to support this group.