Problem drinking and alcoholism: diagnosis and treatment (original) (raw)

Assessment and management of alcohol use disorders

Alcohol can impact on both the incidence and the course of many health conditions, and nearly 6% of all global deaths in 2012 were estimated to be attributable to its consumption. 1 A quarter of the UK adult population drinks alcohol in a way that is potentially or actually harmful to health. 2 Between 2002 and 2012 in England the number of episodes where an alcohol related disease, injury, or condition was the primary reason for hospital admission or a secondary diagnosis doubled. 3 Despite the large numbers of people drinking alcohol at higher risk levels, a relatively low number access treatment. 4 Possible causes for this include missed opportunities to identify problems, limited access to specialist services, and underdeveloped care pathways. International studies have shown that more than 20% of patients presenting to primary care are higher risk or dependent drinkers, 5 yet the problem of alcohol is inadequately addressed. This review focuses on practical aspects of the assessment and treatment of alcohol use disorders from the perspective of the non-specialist hospital doctor or general practitioner.

Management of alcohol abuse

Clinics in liver disease, 2012

This article reviews the spectrum of alcohol use disorders. The pharmacologic properties of ethanol and its metabolism, and the historical, physical, and laboratory elements that may help diagnose an alcohol use disorder are examined. The concepts of motivational interviewing and stages of change are mentioned, along with the American Society of Addiction Medicine patient placement criteria, to determine the best level of treatment for alcoholism. Various therapeutic management options are reviewed, including psychological, pharmacologic, and complementary/alternative choices. This article provides a basic understanding of available tools to diagnose and treat this cunning and baffling brain and multisystem disease.

Management of Alcohol Use Disorder

Journal of Addiction and Therapies, 2017

This monograph is a review article on the spectrum of alcohol use disorders.We discuss the pharmacological properties of ethanol along with its metabolism. The historical, physical and laboratory elements that may assist in diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder are examined. The concepts of motivational interviewing and stages of change are mentioned, along with the ASAM patient placement criteria to determine the best level of treatment when the subject is ready to take action. Various therapeutic management options are reviewed including psychologic, pharmacologic, and complementary/alternative choices. The purpose of this article is to give the clinician a basic understanding of the tools available to diagnose and treat this "Cunning and baffling" brain and multisystem disease.

Prevention and treatment of alcohol-related problems

Academic Medicine, 1996

This article summarizes the major themes, conclusions and recommendations of a 2-year study conducted for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism by the Institute of Medicine. The study is devoted to the identification of research opportunities that will improve knowledge about the prevention and treatment of alcohol problems. In the first part of the report, the study committee examines the social and personal aspects of alcohol-related problems toward which prevention efforts are directed; delineates the features of a public health orientation that it deems most appropriate for the prevention task; discusses individual vulnerability to alcohol misuse; and reviews genetic9 developmental and social learning perspectives on prevention. In the second part of the report, which is devoted to treatment research, the committee considers the underlying philosophical issues as well as the formidable methodological problems in conducting treatment research. Central to this is a broad review of promising treatment modalities and the research needed for developing effective patient-treatment matching schemes. In the final part of the report, the committee concludes that cooperative multisite research efforts are indispensable to the implementation of the research directions it recommends. (J. Stud. Alcohol 53: 5-16, 1992) LCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS continue to exact a great toll on individuals and societies. In the United States, alcohol use is involved in nearly 100,000 deaths annually and plays a major role in numerous medical and social problems. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which was given responsibility by Congress for fostering research on the prevention and treatment of alcoholism, asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to undertake a study to assess the cur

The treatment of alcohol dependence

Current Opinion in Internal Medicine, 2007

Copyright Status This manual was constructed, with permission, from several pre-existing manuals that included medical management as part of their interventions. These manuals are cited below. The Medical Management Subgroup (authors), with the assistance of Kelly Tobin Murray (University of North Carolina, COMBINE Coordinating Center), rewrote and edited sections to provide a focused, cohe sive set of guidelines for medical practitioners to follow in delivering Medical Management (MM) treatment. We also acknowledge the individual contributions of

Medications for unhealthy alcohol use: across the spectrum

Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2011

The prevalence of unidentified or untreated unhealthy alcohol use remains high. With the advent of pharmacotherapy and models of counseling appropriate for use in primary care settings as well as in specialty care, clinicians have new tools to manage the range of alcohol problems across the spectrum of health care settings. By extending treatment to primary care, many people who do not currently receive specialty care may have increased access to treatment. In addition, primary care providers, by virtue of their ongoing relationship with patients, may be able to provide continuing treatment over time. Extending the spectrum of care to hazardous drinkers who may not be alcohol dependent could result in earlier intervention and reduce the consequences of excessive drinking.