Hospital Wards and Clinics

Persons with unhealthy alcohol use form a high proportion of hospital patients, amounting to approximately 20% overall and up to 80% in some locations. However, approximately half of patients with alcohol use disorder are not identified by hospital staff.  

Nonetheless, there are strong grounds for general hospitals to have systematic screening procedures in place for unhealthy alcohol use among inpatients and outpatients, and procedures for appropriate interventions. The benefits of such procedures include earlier recognition, prevention and treatment of alcohol withdrawal and alcohol-related medical disorders, and reduced lengths of stay and in-hospital morbidity. All hospitals should have in place routine procedures for facilitating follow-up in the community following discharge.  

In summary, hospital-based interventions may include: 

• • • brief interventions delivered by general hospital medical, nursing and allied health professionals; 

    • management of withdrawal, intoxication, and other alcohol-related medical morbidity; and 

    • referral back to the general practitioner and other referral services, providing feedback about the level of risky consumption and advising the need for ongoing monitoring and further intervention. 

Strategies to increase the detection rate in the hospital setting include: 

• • • undergraduate and postgraduate multidisciplinary training; 

    • system redesign incorporating systematic electronic recording of alcohol consumption data, or equivalent paper-based information systems; and 

    • specialist drug and alcohol consultation liaison services within all hospitals.