Identification and Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

ALCOHOL USE DISORDER IS A CHRONIC RELAPSING AND REMITTING SYNdrome in which excessive drinking of alcohol persists despite causing health and social problems.(1) The disorder is a leading contributor to illness and death(2) but is frequently not diagnosed or treated in clinical settings, and as a result, the burden of disease remains high. In the United States, an estimated 29 million persons are affected by the disorder, leading to approximately 178,000 deaths in 2021, a health burden that is approximately double that associated with the use of opioids.(3) Unhealthy alcohol use by a patient is suggested by history, biologic markers, and coexisting conditions such as liver disease. Treatment for alcohol use problems has been shown to improve outcomes in most cases. This review discusses ways of identifying the disorder, associated biomarkers, and psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments, with emphasis on their use in general medical settings.