Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is highly effective for alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients—but only if they are motivated and determined to complete homework exercises and to practice assigned coping skills. Many clinicians naturally use CBT techniques with AUD patients without knowing it. For example, any time you discuss relapse prevention strategies (see “Teaching Relapse Prevention Techniques in Alcohol Use Disorder”), you are using a version of CBT. From Treating Alcohol Use Disorder: A Fact Book (2023).

Relapse rates to alcohol use are approximately 40%–80%, depending on the duration of sobriety. Since relapse is the rule rather than the exception, it is important to make relapse prevention an integral part of treating alcohol use disorder patients. This fact sheet offers some powerful tips and techniques that you can integrate into your treatment visits. From Treating Alcohol Use Disorder: A Fact Book (2023).

Inpatient managed withdrawal is best for patients with significant consistent alcohol use daily for months, history of seizures, significant medical issues, severe concurrent mental illness, and unstable home environment/poor outpatient reliability (see “How to Predict Severity of Alcohol Withdrawal”). From Treating Alcohol Use Disorder: A Fact Book (2023).