Validated screening methods are available to identify patients with heavy alcohol use. Patients who meet criteria for an AUD should be prescribed brief counselling and naltrexone as initial therapy or referred for a more intensive psychosocial intervention. With continued monitoring of the patient’s drinking, the treatment can be altered by increasing the intensity or type of psychosocial treatment and adding or substituting another first-line medication to ensure the best outcomes. Additional research is needed to identify more efficacious medications and to define the optimal duration, sequencing, and combination of therapies to guide the treatment of AUD.
