Alcohol use disorder has a significant impact on the lives of people who suffer from it and their families. It can cause significant short- and long-term consequences, with approximately 88,000 people dying for alcohol-related causes annually in the United States (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2020). Globally, alcohol misuse is considered to be among the top five risk factors for premature death and disability among adults, and there are over 200 diseases to which alcohol use disorder contributes (NIAAA, 2020). Alcohol use disorder is often challenging to diagnose and treat as it progresses slowly from light, casual alcohol use to binge drinking or regular drinking.
In order to address the rising prevalence of alcohol use disorder, it is essential to apply a comprehensive population health strategy. Firstly, it is necessary to administer diagnostic tools to adults annually via their primary care providers. Secondly, risk factors for alcohol use disorder should be identified during patient examination and history assessment and recorded, and patients with multiple risk factors who drink alcohol regularly should be referred to mental health counseling.
Thirdly, cost-effective interventions should be researched and identified based on randomized controlled trials, which provide high-quality evidence. Primary care providers and social workers should also notify patients about various options for genetic counseling and interventions during routine visits. These steps would help to identify and treat alcohol use disorder in adult populations, thus reducing the burden of this disease.
Social workers play a vital role in addressing alcohol use disorder as they can identify people who are at risk of developing it or fit the diagnostic criteria already and refer them to mental health providers. For example, social workers can mark high-risk clients and share their concerns with primary care providers so that the patient could be assessed during their next visit. Additionally, social workers can identify clients who drink regularly during home visits and provide information about available interventions.
Reference
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2020). Alcohol facts and statistics. Web.