AUD is preventable. Effective and efficient prevention of AUD lies in identifying high-risk individuals and then applying prevention and intervention programs promptly.4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Commonly used screening methods, such as the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT),13 focus on drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems; therefore, they are designed for individuals who have already started drinking, and they overlook those who currently do not drink or do not yet exhibit alcohol-related problems but could rapidly progress. Furthermore, underage drinkers may not accurately report their drinking history; this is particularly crucial for adolescents and young adults, because alcohol can cause substantial harm to their neural development. Additionally, for many individuals, waiting for demonstration of alcohol-related problems means that they may have already progressed beyond the efficacy of some prevention and intervention programs. Therefore, identifying individuals at high risk of AUD before they start drinking can minimize the potential harm of alcohol consumption and maximize the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs.
