Alcohol use disorders, including alcohol dependence

Alcohol dependence is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Accurate diagnosis using structured screening tools facilitates appropriate intervention, early screening for liver disease and referral to specialist services and mutual aid. For patients admitted to hospital, assessment of the risk of withdrawal and assertive treatment with benzodiazepines, particularly in the first 24 hours, improves patient safety by preventing withdrawal complications such as seizures and delirium. Similarly, detecting individuals at risk of, or who have, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, and prescribing parenteral thiamine in adequate quantities, prevents the development of long-standing cognitive impairment. Hospital admission is an opportunity for reflection and building motivation for behaviour change, and efforts to engage with patients, establish what successes they have had in their recovery journey, and link them into local specialist and peer-led support structures ensures they have the best chance of lasting recovery.