Peer Support in Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects between 4% and 6% of French adults, and requires appropriate medical treatment. However, 20-40% of patients with AUD are lost to follow-up at an early stage. Consequently, it is important for addiction departments to implement and evaluate innovative tools and interventions, including the involvement of peer support, to help patients remain in care, and to assess whether peer support has a positive impact on their clinical outcome. Addiction peer support specialists (APSSs) are individuals who have personally experienced addiction, and who have decided to use their experience to assist other people going through a similar situation, after completing a specific official graduation. Compared to other caregivers, APSSs may induce in patients a sense of identification which could improve the patient motivation to engage and remain in care. This is the main hypothesis and the main scientific objective of the PEERSIAD study, which will aim to confirm that accompanying patients with AUD using APSSs after alcohol detoxification, reduces the rate of lost-to-follow-up and improves the overall clinical outcome.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged ≥ 18 * Socially insured * Meeting DSM-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) * Abstinent from alcohol and involved in supervised alcohol withdrawal for at least 5 days and no more than 21 days (outpatient or inpatient) * Starting a post-detoxification outpatient program Exclusion Criteria: * Other severe substance use disorder, i.e. DSM-5 criteria ≥ 6 (excluding tobacco) * Patient under protective measure (safeguard measure, guardianship) or deprived of liberty or in ordered care and hospitalization measures without consent. * Inability to communicate and express oneself orally in French, compromising the possibility of exchanges between the Peer support and the patient. * Psychiatric or cognitive comorbidities making inclusion impossible, at the investigator's discretion. * Individual accompaniment by a Peer support in the 15 days prior to inclusion.