Your patients trust you to help them live healthier lives.

 

"While almost half of Americans say they would go to their health care providers for help, most doctors are uninformed about this disease and rarely are equipped to offer a diagnosis, provide treatment or connect patients with appropriate specialty care."

Drew E. Altman, PhD, Chair,
The CASA Columbia National Advisory Commission on Addiction Treatment

Who Needs Help?

In the last few years, the diagnosis of "alcoholism" has been changed to "alcohol use disorder" (AUD), which includes a spectrum from harmful use to physical addiction of alcohol.

"In 2014, only one in three binge drinkers was asked about alcohol use and advised about risky or harmful drinking levels. Further, only one in six binge drinkers was asked about alcohol use and advised by a health professional to reduce their drinking."  - CDC MMWR 3/31/17

• An estimated 3 of every 10 U.S. adults have AUD.
• Nearly 90% of adults with AUD are NOT addicted to alcohol.
• About 70% of binge drinkers (5+ drinks for men, 4+ for women) are ages 26 and older with those 65+ binge drinking 5-6 times a month on average.

Screening

US Preventive Services Task Force recommends alcohol screening for adults 18 and older and the CDC has shown that brief screening with patients may reduce individual consumption per occasion by up to 25%.

Screening Tools

• Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT)
• AUDIT-C

 

Sources:

CDC - Fact Sheets-Binge Drinking - Alcohol. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm

CDC VitalSigns - Alcohol Screening and Counseling. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/alcohol-screening-counseling/index.html

Esser, M. B., Hedden, S. L., Kanny, D., Brewer, R. D., Gfroerer, J. C., & Naimi, T. S. (2014). Prevalence of Alcohol Dependence Among US Adult Drinkers, 2009–2011. Preventing Chronic Disease, 11. http://doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140329

Final Recommendation Statement: Alcohol Misuse: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care - US Preventive Services Task Force. (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/alcohol-misuse-screening-and-behavioral-counseling-interventions-in-primary-care