Alcohol Use

Three medications are currently approved in the US for the treatment of alcohol use disorder and can be prescribed by any clinician:  Naltrexone (Revia®, Vivitrol®), Acamprosate (Campral)  and  Disulfiram (Antabuse®). Naltrexone and acamprosate are very safe and well tolerated and do not make people sick if they drink but rather work to decrease cravings and urges to drink to help people drink less. They are both available in pill form, however, naltrexone is also available as a monthly injection that some patients prefer for ease of adherence. Disulfiram is one of the first medications used to maintain abstinence from alcohol however it is rarely prescribed now. People who were medicated with disulfiram would feel immediately sick if they had even a small amount of alcohol.  This approach has fallen out of favor.

We can help navigate the many types of treatment plans available for a person experiencing AUD. They can range from inpatient programs that include detoxification and rehabilitation to a mixture of intensive outpatient (IOP) or partial hospitalization plans (PHP), and supportive outpatient programs. Counseling can also be accessed upon request by calling our CareConnect Warmline number and speaking with one of our Substance Use Navigators.

• Outpatient—regular office, virtual, or telehealth visits for counseling, medication support, or both
• Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization—coordinated outpatient care for complex needs
• Residential—a low- or high-intensity program in a 24-hour treatment setting
• Intensive inpatient—medically directed 24-hour services; may manage withdrawal

Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous® (also known as “AA”) and other 12-step programs provide peer support for people interested in reducing or stopping drinking. Combined with treatment led by health care providers, mutual-support groups can offer a valuable additional support.