title: Alcohol use screening and case finding: screening tools, clinical clues, and making the diagnosis.
abstract: This article presents an evidence-based approach to screening and case finding for alcohol use disorders in primary care. Problematic alcohol use by both adults and adolescents is considered. For clarity, this evidence-based presentation is divided into 6 sections: (1) epidemiology of alcohol use disorders, (2) associated health problems, (3) US Preventive Services Task Force screening recommendations, (4) screening/case finding instruments, (5) screening/case finding strategies, and (6) summary. This article reviews the state-of-the-art, evidence-based concepts and practices for screening and case finding for alcohol use disorders among adults and adolescents in primary care settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 295 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA. Electronic address: freedyjr@musc.edu.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Freedy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult