title: Unhealthy Alcohol Use.
abstract: Unhealthy alcohol use is common and routine screening is essential to identify patients and initiate appropriate treatment. At-risk or hazardous drinking is best managed with brief interventions, which can be performed by any provider and are designed to enhance patients' motivations and promote behavioral change. Alcohol withdrawal can be managed, preferably with benzodiazepines, using a symptom-triggered approach. Twelve-step programs and provider-driven behavioral therapies have robust data supporting their effectiveness and patients with alcohol use disorder should be referred for these services. Research now support the use of several FDA-approved medications that aid in promoting abstinence and reducing heavy drinking.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 1450 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Electronic address: Stephen.holt@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 367 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tetrault
mesh_terms: D064829:Alcohol Abstinence; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents
keywords: Addiction; Alcohol use disorder; Alcoholism; Brief intervention; Diagnosis; Pharmacotherapy; Screening