Alcohol disorders often undetected.

• Position: Hospitalization - Brief Article

Many people admitted to hospitals in the U.S. have alcohol use disorders that go undetected, according to a study by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Washington, D.C., a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The finding underscores a need to screen hospital patients for alcohol problems and refer them for further evaluation, intervention, and treatment as needed.

"This study indicates that we are missing many opportunities to identify and treat hospitalized individuals who have alcohol problems," contends NIAAA Director Ting-Kai Li. "By routinely screening all hospital patients who report current alcohol use, we could help many individuals avail themselves of the alcohol misuse therapies from which they might benefit."

Upon admission, participants underwent a diagnostic interview to identify current alcohol use disorders. "We estimated that nearly one-quarter of hospitalized individuals who identified themselves as current alcohol drinkers met standard diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders," explains...