Pandemic Underscores Value of Telehealth Options for AUD Treatment

The need for physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an expansion in the use of technologies to minimize person-to-person contact. The healthcare industry in particular saw a rapid growth of measures, collectively known as telehealth or telemedicine, to provide care and facilitate interactions between providers and patients. Telehealth encompasses a wide range of … Read more

As Male and Female Drinking Patterns Become More Similar, Adverse Alcohol Risks for Women Become More Apparent

The steady near-equalization in patterns of alcohol use and misuse between women and men over the last decade has revealed women’s greater risks for alcohol-related consequences. A 2015 National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)-led analysis of annual data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that differences in measures such as current … Read more

NIAAA Helps Healthcare Professionals Provide Better Care for Patients Who Drink Too Much

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is working on two fronts to help healthcare professionals gain knowledge about alcohol’s impact on health and ways to prevent, detect, and treat alcohol problems in their patients. Later this year, NIAAA plans to launch The Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on Alcohol, which will provide succinct and … Read more

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Invites Input on 2022-2026 Strategic Plan Outline

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is currently developing a FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan to highlight priorities and guide activities for advancing the Institute’s mission over the next five years. NIAAA is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Information inviting comments on the draft outline. We are accepting comments until July … Read more

COVID-19 means long stretch of stormy weather for people with alcohol and substance use disorders

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created an environment that is particularly problematic for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders (ASUD), according to physician scientists at the National Institutes of Health.  In a commentary now online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, the researchers liken the global coronavirus emergency to a “perfect storm,” with dire … Read more

SBIRT Has Broad Impact on Adolescent Health

Over the last two decades, numerous research studies have firmly established the effectiveness of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) in pediatric practices for alcohol and other substances in reducing underage drinking and its harmful consequences. More recently, investigators have hypothesized that SBIRT might have broader effects on adolescent health. Alcohol and other … Read more