Patients with this risk level are using alcohol in ways that can have important implications for their health and may meet DSM-5 criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder at a lower level of severity. They are at risk for adverse outcomes associated with their alcohol use, including accidents.
Display Title
Alcohol Risk Level: Problem Use - Risk for Adverse Outcomes
Tool Type
Drugs of Abuse
Risk Level
Moderate
Additional Resources
Alcohol Use Resources
- Alcohol's Effects on Health – NIAAA
- Alcohol Facts and Statistics – NIAAA
- Alcohol Interventions for Young Adults – NIAAA
- AAFP: Alcohol Use Disorders – AAFP
General Resources
- Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment Training Manual – Yale School of Medicine
- Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator – SAMHSA
- Motivational Interviewing Skills Practice – NIDA
- OARS Essential Communication Techniques – Oregon.gov
- Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (3rd ed.) - Behavioral Therapies – NIDA
Suggested Action
The suggested intervention for patients in the “problem use” group is to explore the severity of problem use through a clinical interview using DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder criteria as a guide.
- Express concern through a brief intervention and recommend quitting.
- Use the FRAMES components and motivational interviewing techniques (see references for specific resources) to encourage change.
- Provide on-site counseling or a referral for off-site counseling and/or support group to complement medication treatment.
- Assess and manage any co-occurring problems, such as pain and depression, that may be impacting alcohol use.
- Review any prescribed medications to identify those that when combined with alcohol may increase the risk of overdose (opioids, benzodiazepines).
- Educate patient on risks associated with combining alcohol other drugs.
- If patient did not report alcohol use, they may still be at risk of initiating alcohol use in the future.
- Advise not to use alcohol and drive.
- Arrange follow-up.