How to Apply The Core Resource on Alcohol in Clinical Practice

Last Revised

The Healthcare Professional’s Core Resource on Alcohol consists of 14 concise, practical articles created to help you deliver evidence-based alcohol healthcare. If you’re wondering where to begin, the “roadmap” below can help.

Roadmap for Applying the Core Resource

Here, we sort the Core articles broadly into “how-to content” and “context for care” to show how they could be applied in different aspects of your practice. This allows you to focus first on what’s now most important to you and your patients.

All articles offer free CME/CE credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, and pharmacists. 

How-to content: Core articles that support a workflow for evidence-based alcohol healthcare

This sample 3-step workflow uses a self-report checklist for alcohol use disorder symptoms as an assessment tool. Your health system may use different tools for screening and assessment.

Step 1: SCREEN for HEAVY DRINKING

  • Use one of the following brief tools recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force

  • Do NOT use: The CAGE, which does not detect the full spectrum of unhealthy drinking

Step 2: ADVISE or ASSESS

If NO heavy drinking

Stay within the U.S. Dietary Guidelines — or, abstain when warranted, such as during pregnancy.

If YES to heavy drinking

Step 3: BRIEF INTERVENTION

If NO AUD (0-1 symptoms)

  • Ask permission: Start by setting the agenda to discuss alcohol use.
  • Give feedback and advice: Discuss the patient’s current drinking, related risks, and goals.
    • Link your concern about alcohol use with the patient’s relevant physical and mental health conditions and emphasize the benefits of cutting back.
    • Advise staying within the Dietary Guidelines or abstinence as warranted.
    • Negotiate individualized drinking goals to include "no heavy drinking days" as needed.
  • Check-in: Ask what patients think of this information.
  • Build motivation: Briefly explore reasons for making a change, listening for the patient's own reasons.
  • Offer support: Express empathy and encourage autonomy.
  • Identify next steps: Work together to develop a plan for change.

If YES to AUD (2+ symptoms)

  • Ask permission: Start by setting the agenda to discuss alcohol use.
  • Give feedback and advice: Discuss the patient’s current drinking, related risks, and goals.
    • Inform them that you believe they have alcohol use disorder, that they can get better, and that you’re willing to help.
    • Link your concern about alcohol use with the patient’s other relevant physical and mental health conditions and emphasize the benefits of quitting.
    • Advise quitting by cutting down gradually. If the patient is hesitant to abstain, then negotiate individualized drinking goals.
    • Discuss treatment options. Consider prescribing an FDA-approved medication for AUD, providing a referral to specialty behavioral healthcare, and suggesting they try different mutual support groups. 
  • Check-in: Ask what patients think of this information.
  • Build motivation: Briefly explore reasons for making a change, listening for the patient's own reasons. Use their responses to the AUD symptom checklist (see Step 2) as an opener, if applicable.
  • Offer support: Express empathy and encourage autonomy.
  • Identify next steps: Work together to develop a plan for change.

AT NEXT VISIT, CONTINUE FOLLOW-UP

  • Revisit drinking goals.
  • Acknowledge change is difficult.
  • Affirm progress.
  • Explore challenges and strategies to surmount them.

Context for care: Core articles that support better care through deeper understandings

Back to Top