Managing Alcohol Use Disorder

Gastroenterology (Digestive Health)

The prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD) is on the rise, and alcohol-related hospital admissions in Alberta have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with previous years. AUD is known to contribute to development of cirrhosis, and it contributes to the progression and complications of disease. At the same time, attitudes about individuals with substance use disorder have also been found to impact clinicians' perspectives of patients with AUD and the care they provide. Since early detection is critical to reverse these trends, supporting health providers with education around substance use management and routine screening for alcohol misuse is beneficial. 

Led by PLP Medical Director Dr. Puneeta Tandon, PLP developed and delivered a three part workshop series for specialists, family physicians, and their teams. Accredited with both colleges, these workshops used a flipped-classroom model, where participants viewed a pre-recorded webinar and various resources, and then participated in a live, interactive session. Our presenters and panelists included Dr. Monty Ghosh, Dr. Jessica Kirkwood, Dr. Jessica Mellinger, Dr. Gerald Winder, Dr. Eddy Lang, and Dr. Anne Fernandez, with planning support from Dr. Cathy Scrimshaw. 

This workshop series complements previous work in our cirrhosis program, and inspired a new project to be undertaken next year, focusing on alcohol use disorder in primary care. Family physicians often encounter patients with alcohol use disorder, and our needs assessment shows that they are interested in increasing their knowledge of how to manage AUD at any stage, how to prescribe medications to manage AUD, and how to prevent AUD complications, particularly with screening and brief interventions.