Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Reviews 11 studies on the use of medication for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in primary care, concluding that models of care that treat AUD in primary care can increase the uptake of treatment

Evalutes the prescene of "spin," a biased way of reporting results, in the abstract of systematic reviews of pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder, finding "spin" in more than 40% of the abstracts identified, something physicians should be aware of

Reviews literature on naltrexone, concluding that it leads to reduced drinking although often not complete abstinence

Reviews seven trials on naltrexone use for alcohol use disorder, finding that it reduces drinking days and heavy drinking days per month, with longer duration of treatment associated with larger reductions

Provides an overview of disulfiram for alcohol use, including indications, mechanism of action, administration, adverse effects, contraindications, and how to use it within an interprofessional health care team

Suggests that alcohol use treatment for patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver, such as counseling and medication-assisted therapies, can improve outcomes and are cost-effective

Reviews the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and off-label medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD), concluding that medication should be used in conjunction with behavioral therapy and that there is a need for continued development of pharmacotherapies for AUD

Reviews the literature on wearable devices that help track alcohol consumption

Presents the role of the primary care provider in screening, brief intervention, and treatment for alcohol use disorder, including information about the role and importance of using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic