Alcohol Use: Screening, Determining Risk, and Evidence-Based Treatment
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Screening & Interventions
Despite the high prevalence of high-risk drinking, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and alcohol-related harms in British Columbia (BC), these conditions often go unrecognized and untreated in our health system.
Research has shown that primary care providers can play a key role in shared decision-making about any alcohol consumption, the early detection and treatment of high-risk drinking and AUD, and in connecting people and families with specialized care services and recovery-oriented supports in their communities.
To address the need for a better understanding of recent recommendations of alcohol use, UBC CPD has partnered with the BC Ministry of Health to create education for health professionals to implement evidence-based prevention, harm reduction and treatment interventions for high-risk drinking and AUD in their scope of practice. Learn more about the eLearning course.
Engaging stakeholders and patients
In consultation with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and health professionals involved in the care of individuals affected by high-risk drinking and AUD, UBC CPD has conducted a needs assessment. We believe the inclusion of patient voices in the planning, development and implementation of continuing professional development provides unique perspectives and advances patient- and family-centred care.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Education
The Alcohol Use: Screening, Determining Risk, and Evidence-Based Treatment course is an accredited, self-paced eLearning activity designed to build the following skills:
- Describe the societal impacts and costs of alcohol use in British Columbia.
- Discuss alcohol-related health harms as occurring along a continuum at any consumption level.
- Describe the current national and provincial guidelines for the clinical management of high-risk drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Identify people with high-risk drinking and AUD in your practice.
- Initiate sensitive, respectful, trauma-informed, and culturally safe conversations and screenings around alcohol use.
- Utilize evidence-based interventions for high-risk drinking and AUD withdrawal management and treatment.
Additional resources
UBC CPD provides additional education on AUD through a webinar on Managing Alcohol Use Disorder in BC: New Guidelines, Challenges & Clinical Pearls and a This Changed My Practice (TCMP) article on New guidance on alcohol and health from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
Our Partner
The BC Ministry of Health oversees the provincial health-care system. They have an overall responsibility for ensuring that quality, appropriate, cost effective and timely health services are available for all British Columbians.