Quick Guide for Counselors on Incorporating Alcohol Pharmacotherapies Into Medical Practice

Book excerpt: This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. This Guide provides succinct, easily accessible information to substance abuse counselors (SAC) about the use of medications to help clients achieve and maintain abstinence from alcohol. It is based on a Treatment Improvement Protocol for healthcare practitioners who can prescribe or administer medications for the treatment of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). However, SAC also need to know about pharmacotherapy because medications can help some clients achieve and maintain abstinence. This Guide was written to assist SAC in: Answering clients¿ questions about AUD medications (e.g., how they work, whom they may benefit, side effects); and Understanding which of their clients may be candidates for pharmacological treatment for AUDs. Illustrations.