Alcohol

FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL MISUSE

• Alcohol misuse not only includes alcohol abuse and dependence, but also at-risk drinking.
• At-risk drinking raises the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, fractures, violence, suicide, trauma, and medication non-adherence¹.
• At-risk drinkers can often be managed with advice and brief interventions and therefore may not need formal treatment in order to drink responsibly².
• Primary Care Clinicians have the opportunity to play a key role in detecting alcohol misuse and in initiating prevention or treatment efforts².
• Despite patients’ interest in changing drinking habits, the VA’s Large Health Study found that only 12% of heavy drinkers and 17% of very heavy drinkers who felt they needed help with cutting down or stopping drinking reported getting the help they needed ³.

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