Treatment of Unhealthy Alcohol Use

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Holt ◽  
David A Fiellin

Unhealthy alcohol use represents the fifth leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and the first leading cause among persons 18 to 45 years of age. Despite the global impact of unhealthy alcohol use, the adoption of evidence-based treatments has been sluggish. Behavioral strategies for lower level drinking include the brief motivational interview, designed to be within the scope of any healthcare provider, and more specialist-driven approaches for those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. Benzodiazepines remain the mainstay treatment for inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment, whereas other medications have similar efficacy in managing patients in the outpatient setting with milder forms of withdrawal. For maintenance treatment of AUD, four FDA-approved medications exist, with efficacy in treating AUD, as well as several non–FDA-approved medications that have been found to be effective in promoting abstinence and reducing drinking. The use of medication to treat many patients with AUD falls within the scope of primary care providers. This review contains 6 tables and 54 references. Key Words: addiction, alcohol, counseling, drinking, pharmacotherapy, primary care, psychotherapy, relapse, treatment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Holt ◽  
David A Fiellin

Unhealthy alcohol use represents the fifth leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and the first leading cause among persons 18 to 45 years of age. Despite the global impact of unhealthy alcohol use, the adoption of evidence-based treatments has been sluggish. Behavioral strategies for lower level drinking include the brief motivational interview, designed to be within the scope of any healthcare provider, and more specialist-driven approaches for those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. Benzodiazepines remain the mainstay treatment for inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment, whereas other medications have similar efficacy in managing patients in the outpatient setting with milder forms of withdrawal. For maintenance treatment of AUD, four FDA-approved medications exist, with efficacy in treating AUD, as well as several non–FDA-approved medications that have been found to be effective in promoting abstinence and reducing drinking. The use of medication to treat many patients with AUD falls within the scope of primary care providers. This review contains 6 tables and 54 references. Key Words: addiction, alcohol, counseling, drinking, pharmacotherapy, primary care, psychotherapy, relapse, treatment


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R Holt ◽  
David A Fiellin

Unhealthy alcohol use represents the fifth leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and the first leading cause among persons 18 to 45 years of age. Despite the global impact of unhealthy alcohol use, the adoption of evidence-based treatments has been sluggish. Behavioral strategies for lower level drinking include the brief motivational interview, designed to be within the scope of any healthcare provider, and more specialist-driven approaches for those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) such as cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. Benzodiazepines remain the mainstay treatment for inpatient alcohol withdrawal treatment, whereas other medications have similar efficacy in managing patients in the outpatient setting with milder forms of withdrawal. For maintenance treatment of AUD, four FDA-approved medications exist, with efficacy in treating AUD, as well as several non–FDA-approved medications that have been found to be effective in promoting abstinence and reducing drinking. The use of medication to treat many patients with AUD falls within the scope of primary care providers. This review contains 6 tables and 54 references. Key Words: addiction, alcohol, counseling, drinking, pharmacotherapy, primary care, psychotherapy, relapse, treatment


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishi Suryavanshi ◽  
Gauri Dhumal ◽  
Samyra Cox ◽  
Shashikala Sangle ◽  
Andrea DeLuca ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among persons with HIV and/or TB. Computer-Based interventions (CBI) can reduce unhealthy alcohol use, are scalable, and may improve outcomes among patients with HIV or TB. OBJECTIVE We assessed the acceptability, adaptability, and feasibility of a novel CBI for alcohol reduction in HIV and TB clinical settings in Pune, India. METHODS We conducted 10 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with persons with alcohol use disorder (AUD); [TB (n=6), HIV (n=2), HIV-TB co-infected (n=1) selected using convenience sampling method, No HIV or TB disease (n=1)], one focus group (FG) with members of alcoholics anonymous (AA) (n=12, and two FGs with health care providers (HCPs) of a tertiary care hospital (n=22). All participants reviewed and provided feedback on a CBI for AUD delivered by a 3-D virtual counselor. Qualitative data were analyzed using structured framework analysis. RESULTS Majority (n=9) of IDI respondents were male with median age 42 (IQR; 38-45) years. AA FG participants were all male (n=12) and HCPs FG participants were predominantly female (n=15). Feedback was organized into 3 domains: 1) Virtual counselor acceptability; 2) Intervention adaptability; and 3) feasibility of CBI intervention in clinic settings. Overall IDI participants found the virtual counselor to be acceptable and felt comfortable honestly answering alcohol-related questions. All FG participants preferred a human virtual counselor to an animal virtual counselor so as to potentially increase CBI engagement. Additionally, interaction with a live human counselor would further enhance the program’s effectiveness by providing more flexible interaction. HCP FGs noted the importance of adding information on the effects of alcohol on HIV and TB outcomes because patients were not viewed as appreciating these linkages. For local adaptation, more information on types of alcoholic drinks, additional drinking triggers, motivators and activities to substitute for drinking alcohol were suggested by all FG participants. Intervention duration (~20 minutes) and pace were deemed appropriate. HCPs reported that CBI provides systematic, standardized counseling. All FG and IDI reported that CBI could be implemented in Indian clinical settings with assistance from HIV or TB program staff. CONCLUSIONS With cultural tailoring to patients with HIV and TB in Indian clinical care settings, a virtual counselor-delivered alcohol intervention is acceptable, appears feasible to implement, particularly if coupled with person-delivered counseling.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhee Lee ◽  
Thomas F. Kresina ◽  
Melinda Campopiano ◽  
Robert Lubran ◽  
H. Westley Clark

Substance-related and addictive disorders are chronic relapsing conditions that substantially impact public health. Effective treatments for these disorders require addressing substance use/dependence comprehensively as well as other associated comorbidities. Comprehensive addressing of substance use in a medical setting involves screening for substance use, addressing substance use directly with the patient, and formulating an appropriate intervention. For alcohol dependence and opioid dependence, pharmacotherapies are available that are safe and effective when utilized in a comprehensive treatment paradigm, such as medication assisted treatment. In primary care, substance use disorders involving alcohol, illicit opioids, and prescription opioid abuse are common among patients who seek primary care services. Primary care providers report low levels of preparedness and confidence in identifying substance-related and addictive disorders and providing appropriate care and treatment. However, new models of service delivery in primary care for individuals with substance-related and addictive disorders are being developed to promote screening, care and treatment, and relapse prevention. The education and training of primary care providers utilizing approved medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorders and opioid dependence in a primary care setting would have important public health impact and reduce the burden of alcohol abuse and opioid dependence.


10.2196/21015 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e21015
Author(s):  
Erica Francis ◽  
Kara Shifler Bowers ◽  
Glenn Buchberger ◽  
Sheryl Ryan ◽  
William Milchak ◽  
...  

Background Given that youth alcohol use is more common in rural communities, such communities can play a key role in preventing alcohol use among adolescents. Guidelines recommend primary care providers incorporate screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) into routine care. Objective The aim is to train primary care providers and school nurses within a rural 10-county catchment area in Pennsylvania to use SBIRT and facilitate collaboration with community organizations to better coordinate substance use prevention efforts. Methods To build capacity to address underage drinking and opioid use among youth aged 9-20 years, this project uses telehealth, specifically Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), to train primary care providers and school nurses to address substance use with SBIRT. Our project will provide 120 primary care providers and allied health professionals as well as 20 school nurses with SBIRT training. Community-based providers will participate in weekly virtual ECHO sessions with a multidisciplinary team from Penn State College of Medicine that will provide SBIRT training and facilitate case discussions among participants. Results To date, we have launched one SBIRT ECHO project with school personnel, enrolling 34 participants. ECHO participants are from both rural (n=17) and urban (n=17) counties and include school nurses (n=15), school counselors (n=8), teachers (n=5), administrators (n=3), and social workers (n=3). Before the study began, only 2/13 (15.5%) of schools were screening for alcohol use. Conclusions This project teaches primary care clinics and schools to use SBIRT to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance use disorders, reduce problems associated with substance use disorders, and strengthen communities’ prevention capacity. Ours is an innovative model to improve rural adolescent health by reducing alcohol and opioid use. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/21015


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Jonas ◽  
Colleen Barclay ◽  
Debbie Grammer ◽  
Chris Weathington ◽  
Sarah A. Birken ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the US and is associated with many societal and health problems. Less than a third of people who visit primary care providers in the US are asked about or ever discuss alcohol use with a health professional. Methods/design: This study is an adaptive, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effect of primary care practice facilitation and telehealth services on evidence-based screening, counseling, and pharmacotherapy for unhealthy alcohol use in small-to-medium-sized primary care practices. Study participants will include primary care practices in North Carolina with 10 or fewer providers. All enrolled practices will receive a practice facilitation intervention that includes quality improvement (QI) coaching, electronic health record (EHR) support, training, and expert consultation. After 6 months, practices in the lower 50th percentile (based on performance) will be randomized to continued practice facilitation or provision of telehealth services plus ongoing facilitation for the next 6 months. Practices in the upper 50th percentile after the initial 6 months of intervention will continue to receive practice facilitation alone. The main outcome measures include the number (and %) of patients in the target population who are screened for unhealthy alcohol use, screen positive, and receive brief counseling. Additional measures include the number (and %) of patients who receive pharmacotherapy for AUD or are referred for AUD services.Discussion: A successful intervention would significantly reduce morbidity among adults from unhealthy alcohol use by increasing counseling and other treatment opportunities. The study will produce important evidence about the effect of practice facilitation on uptake of evidence-based screening, counseling, and pharmacotherapy for unhealthy alcohol use when delivered on a large scale to small and medium-sized practices. It will also generate scientific knowledge about whether embedded telehealth services can improve use of evidence-based screening and interventions for practices with slower uptake. The results of this rigorously conducted evaluation are expected to have a positive impact by accelerating the dissemination and implementation of evidence related to unhealthy alcohol use into primary care practices.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04317989. March 23, 2020 –registered, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04317989?titles=STUN&draw=2&rank=1


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document