specialists. Group assignments were randomized for both the medication (which was administered double blind) and behavioral treatments (for which raters were blinded). During the four-month treatment period, 68.2% of naltrexone-treated patients had ≥1 binge drinking day compared to 71.4% of placebo patients (P=0.02). When combined with medical management, naltrexone-treated patients were abstinent on 80.6% of days compared to 75.1% in the placebo group (P=.009). Although more efficacious than medical management, the combined behavioral intervention did not enhance medication efficacy.46 Thus, providing AUD patients with a brief psychosocial intervention and a first-line alcohol treatment medication or referring them for specialized psychotherapy can help them to reduce both the frequency with which they drink and their risk of binge drinking.
