An American Family Physician review sets out the family physician's role in alcohol use disorder. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening adults with the AUDIT-C or a similar short tool.
For those who screen positive, evaluation includes a focused examination, blood tests, assessment of liver function and fibrosis, and an estimate of withdrawal risk. Every patient should receive a brief counselling intervention, with treatment or referral where indicated. Treating co-occurring anxiety or depression improves recovery from both. Routine vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine, should not be missed.
In India, where alcohol harm is widespread and specialist addiction services are scarce, the family physician is often the only realistic point of care.
- Screen adults for unhealthy alcohol use with the AUDIT-C or a similar short tool
- Give every patient with alcohol use disorder a brief counselling intervention
- Assess withdrawal risk before advising anyone to stop drinking abruptly
- Check liver function and fibrosis, and screen for depression and anxiety
- Offer pneumococcal and other routine vaccines
Why it matters
Alcohol use disorder is too common to leave to specialists who most patients will never see.
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