Alcoholism guidelines stress use of meds

Last month, in an effort to make it easier for health professionals to identify and treat patients with heavy drinking and alcohol-use disorders, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: A Clinician's Guide. One major difference in the 2005 guide, which replaces an earlier 2003 version, is the recommendation that medications be considered in addition to traditional therapies as part of the treatment process.