PCSS-MAUD Webinar: Integrating AUD Treatment into Hospital Settings-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

This webinar, presented by Dr. Joji Suzuki and sponsored by the Providers Clinical Support System – Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (PCSS-MAUD), focuses on integrating treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) into hospital settings. AUD affects a significant portion of the U.S. population, with a disproportionate number of AUD-related healthcare encounters occurring in acute care settings such as emergency departments (EDs) and hospitals. Despite this, medications for AUD (MAUD) are underutilized in hospitals, prescribed in only about 2% of cases.<br /><br />The session covers the epidemiology of unhealthy alcohol use, screening methods, biomarker testing, and strategies to incorporate MAUD into hospital care. Screening tools, including the AUDIT and TAPS questionnaires, are required in trauma centers and are important for identifying at-risk individuals. However, traditional Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) approaches are often insufficient, especially for patients with established AUD, leading to the proposal of a Screening, Treatment Initiation, and Referral (STIR) approach.<br /><br />Initiating MAUD such as oral and injectable naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram during hospitalization shows promising outcomes, including reduced 30-day readmissions and alcohol-related hospital returns. Hospital-based addiction consultation services have been shown to increase MAUD initiation and improve post-discharge care linkage.<br /><br />Alcohol biomarker testing, especially phosphatidylethanol (PEth), provides a sensitive and specific method to detect recent heavy alcohol use, helping clinicians more accurately diagnose and tailor treatment, even when patients underreport consumption.<br /><br />The webinar emphasizes that AUD treatment should adopt a bio-psycho-social model incorporating medications, psychological supports, and social networks. Importantly, success should not be measured solely by abstinence but also by meaningful reduction in drinking, which can confer significant health benefits.<br /><br />In conclusion, while unhealthy alcohol use remains a major public health issue, hospitals represent a crucial opportunity for identifying AUD and initiating effective treatments combining screening, pharmacotherapy, and biomarker testing to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords

Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD

Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder

MAUD

Hospital-based treatment

Screening tools

AUDIT

TAPS

Phosphatidylethanol

Screening, Treatment Initiation, and Referral