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Talking About Alcohol Use: A Communication Support Resource

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This communication support resource provides practical, patient-centered language to help healthcare professionals navigate conversations about alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD). It offers examples for opening the discussion, eliciting patient goals, exploring readiness for change, discussing care options, identifying barriers, and agreeing on a concrete next step, informed by patient- and family-reported experiences.

Released: September 17, 2026

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Clinical Care Options (CCO)

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This activity is supported by an educational grant from Lilly.

Lilly

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Smart Patients

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Target Audience

This program is intended for primary care physicians, emergency medicine physicians, psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, nurse practitioners, physician associates, nurses, and other healthcare professionals caring for patients with AUD.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify AUD across mild, moderate, and severe presentations, including cases in which alcohol use is not the chief complaint using validated screening tools and DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria.

  • Select evidence-based pharmacologic and behavioral treatment strategies for AUD based on patient goals, disease severity, and co-occurring conditions.

  • Implement coordinated, multidisciplinary care pathways for AUD that define team roles, referral triggers, treatment follow-up, and longitudinal reassessment across the care continuum.