July 2005

NIAAA issues clinician’s guide on alcohol abuse

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has released a new guide for healthcare practitioners to help them identify and care for patients with heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders.

“Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinician’s Guide” is now available free online (www.niaaa.nih.gov) and in print, with a pocket version included.

According to NIAAA, about 3 in 10 U.S. adults drink at levels that increase their risk for physical, mental health, and social problems. Of these heavy drinkers, about 1 in 4 currently has alcohol abuse or dependence.

Although relatively common, these alcohol use disorders often go undetected in medical and mental healthcare settings. When effective methods are used for alcohol screening and brief interventions, however, research shows they can promote significant, lasting reductions in drinking levels and alcohol-related problems.

The 2005 edition of the guide provides a research-based approach to alcohol screening and brief intervention for both primary care and mental health clinicians. It updates earlier NIAAA guidelines, which focused solely on primary care providers and used a lengthier screening process. The guide also provides new and revised materials that support clinicians in conducting alcohol screenings, assessments, and brief interventions.

Print copies, complete with the pocket version, can be ordered through NIAAA at 301-443-3860 or online at www.niaaa.nih.gov, or downloaded from the NIAAA Web site. For training, a PowerPoint slide show will be posted on the Web site in the near future.

Source: National Institutes of Health, www.nih.gov

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