Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major public health problem in the United States. The estimated 12-month and lifetime prevalence values for AUD are 13.9% and 29.1%, respectively, with approximately half of individuals with lifetime AUD having a severe disorder. AUD and its sequelae also account for significant excess mortality and cost the United States more than $200 billion annually. Despite its high prevalence and numerous negative consequences, AUD remains undertreated. In fact, fewer than 1 in 10 individuals in the United States with a 12-month diagnosis of AUD receive any treatment. Nevertheless, effective and evidence-based interventions are available, and treatment is associated with reductions in the risk of relapse and AUD-associated mortality. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Pharmacological Treatment of Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder seeks to reduce these substantial psychosocial and public health consequences of AUD for millions of affected individuals. The guideline focuses specifically on evidence-based pharmacological treatments for AUD in outpatient settings and includes additional information on assessment and treatment planning, which are an integral part of using pharmacotherapy to treat AUD. In addition to reviewing the available evidence on the use of AUD pharmacotherapy, the guideline offers clear, concise, and actionable recommendation statements, each of which is given a rating that reflects the level of confidence that potential benefits of an intervention outweigh potential harms. The guideline provides guidance on implementing these recommendations into clinical practice, with the goal of improving quality of care and treatment outcomes of AUD.

Finally, there is a cure for alcoholism. This is the first step. Featuring new and updated information and studies, including an introduction by actress Claudia Christian, the second edition of The Cure for Alcoholism delivers exactly what millions of alcoholics and families of alcoholics have been hoping for: a painless, dignified, and medically proven cure for their addiction. Backed by 82 clinical trials and research that extends back to 1964, The Sinclair Method deploys an opiate-blocking medication in a very specific way—in combination with ongoing drinking—to extinguish the addictive "software" in the brain. The de-addiction process rolls back the addictive mechanism in the brain to its original pre-addicted state—before the first drink was consumed, making this program an actual cure for alcoholism. Drs. Roy Eskapa and David Sinclair of The Sinclair Method have put together a sound scientific book that proves that with this particular method, alcoholism can be cured in more than 78 percent of patients. What's more, the treatment avoids the dangerous withdrawal symptoms, allowing patients to detox gradually and safely while they are still drinking. This removes the need for expensive and unpleasant inpatient rehabilitation programs. Actual drinking levels and cravings automatically decrease until control over alcohol is restored. The bottom line is that patients can control their drinking or stop altogether with the simple yet powerful process outlined in The Cure for Alcoholism. Including a new introduction by actress Claudia Christian about The Sinclair Method's impact on her life, updated trial information, and a letter explaining the treatment that can be given to doctors by patients, The Cure for Alcoholism is a revolutionary book for anyone who wants to gain control over drinking.

This book focuses on the value of supervised Disulfiram therapy, highlighting the many potential and unique benefits of Disulfiram. One of the oldest drugs available for the long-term management of alcohol dependence, Disulfiram remains a viable treatment option for alcohol dependence and has been shown in recent studies to be more successful in treating patients with alcohol dependence than Naltrexone, Topiramate and Acamprosate. It is also useful in dual diagnosis patients and those with co-morbid cocaine and alcohol dependence. Although Disulfiram’s mechanism of action in alcohol dependence was long thought to be its effects as a psychological deterrent, more recent studies point to potential anti-craving effects as well. In dedicated chapters, the book reviews major clinical trials of Disulfiram spanning nearly 60 years, its historical aspects and discovery, side effects, treatment protocols and uses in the context of alcohol dependence. The book also discusses the use of Disulfiram across diverse populations along with monitoring for compliance and various adverse effects that may manifest. Further topics include Disulfiram implant therapy and the role of Disulfiram in the modern long-term pharmacotherapy of alcohol dependence, as well as the role of cognitive behavior therapy in enhancing the effects of Disulfiram and the emerging role of Disulfiram in treating cocaine dependence and pathological gambling. As such, the book offers a “one-stop” comprehensive guide to all aspects of Disulfiram therapy.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Psychosocial treatments for alcoholism have been shown to increase abstinence rates and improve the quality of life for many alcoholics. Nonetheless, a significant proportion of alcoholics find it difficult to maintain initial treatment gains and eventually relapse to problematic drinking. Some of these individuals can now be helped with naltrexone, an opiate antagonist recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat alcohol abuse disorders. When used as an adjunct to psychosocial therapies for alcohol-dependent or alcohol-abusing patients, naltrexone can reduce (1) The percentage of days spent drinking (2) The amount of alcohol consumed on a drinking occasion (3) Relapse to excessive and destructive drinking. This TIP will help clinicians and treatment providers use naltrexone safely and effectively to enhance patient care and improve treatment outcomes. Naltrexone therapy improves treatment outcomes when added to other components of alcoholism treatment. For patients who are motivated to take the medication, naltrexone is an important and valuable tool. In many patients, a short regimen of naltrexone will provide a critical period of sobriety, during which the patient learns to stay sober without it.