PCSS-MAUD Webinar: Systemic Review of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

The Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS-MAUD) webinar, led by Dr. Melissa B. Weimer, focuses on the medications available to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and aims to enhance healthcare professionals' abilities to identify and treat this condition. Funded by SAMHSA, the initiative seeks to provide unbiased, evidence-based information about AUD treatments. <br /><br />Key learning objectives include identifying treatment gaps for AUD, understanding current evidence on medications for AUD (MAUD), and integrating these treatments into clinical practice.<br /><br />The global impact of unhealthy alcohol use is significant, responsible for 4.7% of all deaths worldwide and ranking as the third leading preventable death cause in the US. Since 2016, alcohol-related deaths have risen, particularly among women, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br /><br />Despite the availability of FDA-approved drugs like Acamprosate, Disulfiram, and Naltrexone, only a small fraction of those with AUD receive therapeutic intervention, and less than 2% are treated with medications. Barriers to treatment include institutional challenges, lack of skills and knowledge, and stigma.<br /><br />Non-FDA options include Topiramate, Gabapentin, and Baclofen, and experimental treatments with GLP-1 receptor agonists, Ketamine, and Psilocybin are being investigated. Findings from systematic reviews highlight the moderate efficacy of certain medications in reducing the incidence of returning to drinking.<br /><br />The webinar advocates for primary care settings to play a more prominent role in treating AUD, underscoring that interventions in these environments are cost-effective and capable of reducing heavy drinking as successfully as specialty care. Participants in a survey expressed openness to discussing alcohol use with primary care providers.<br /><br />Lastly, the program underscores the benefits of initiating MAUD in hospital settings to reduce drinking days, enhance medication usage post-discharge, and improve addiction treatment retention. Resources and online modules are available to assist healthcare professionals in implementing best practices in AUD treatment.

Keywords

Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD treatment

PCSS-MAUD webinar

Dr. Melissa B. Weimer

SAMHSA funding

FDA-approved medications

primary care intervention

treatment barriers

experimental treatments

clinical practice integration