title: Alcohol misuse and dependence. Assessment and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners play a vital role in the prevention of alcohol related morbidity and mortality. The earlier an alcohol problem is diagnosed, the better the treatment outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to provide GPs with practical guidelines on the assessment and management of patients with hazardous alcohol use and dependence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is good evidence that early and brief intervention by a GP is most effective in reducing alcohol consumption in patients with hazardous or harmful drinking. In patients with alcohol dependence, pharmacotherapies such as naltrexone and acamprosate, in conjunction with a comprehensive rehabilitation program, are beneficial in a proportion of patients.
authors.affiliation: Herbert Street Drug and Alcohol Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital. nlatt@mail.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Noeline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Latt
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000145:classification; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001315:Australia; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents