Alcohol use disorders

The medical manifestations of alcohol are protean. A drinking history and high index of suspicion for alcohol misuse is part of comprehensive medical assessment. Identification of hazardous and harmful drinking, and provision of brief advice and brief intervention if indicated, should occur in any episode of healthcare. In acute settings, prevention and management of alcohol withdrawal, and of Wernicke's encephalopathy, are key priorities. In community settings, long-term management of alcohol dependence through regular monitoring and feedback is an effective way to manage many alcohol-dependent patients.