In the future, such a technology could be used to track alcohol consumption. Biomedical imaging of the brain is another area where advances could be applied to the study of alcohol and chronic disease. Most radiology images (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], computerized then tomography) show anatomy/morphology. These images generally capture the late stages of chronic disease. An alternative approach would be to examine the physiological function (e.g., neuroreceptors) using nuclear imaging (e.g., positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can image relative chemical composition. MRI diffusion tensor imaging can image white matter tracts
Heavy drinking takes a high toll on society.
Other articles in this issue summarize the disease burden and economic cost to society attributable to alcohol use, which provide a powerful incentive to develop and implement ways to reduce them. The focus of this article is on the role of selective (i.e., clinical) prevention and treatment approaches for heavy drinkers and people with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in reducing the burden associated with excessive alcohol use. As used here, selective, or clinical, prevention refers to strategies targeted at individuals at higher risk of experiencing adverse alcohol effects, such as screening and brief counseling of heavy drinkers in health care settings or internet-based screening and advice provided to college students. The term ��treatment�� refers to services for alcohol dependence provided by a professional, such as a counselor, social worker, nurse, psychologist, or physician.
Community peer-led support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are considered to be distinct from professional treatment services, much like a diabetes support group would be distinguished from endocrinology services. The article focuses on the following three questions: (1) Can selective prevention and treatment reduce the disease burden attributable to heavy drinking? (2) Are some treatment approaches more cost-effective than others? (3) Do gaps exist in the current continuum of care? After addressing these issues, the review suggests research priorities to help close existing gaps and reduce the burden of disease. Selective Prevention and Treatment: Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Disease Burden Screening and brief advice for at-risk (i.
e., nondependent) drinkers, commonly known as screening and brief intervention (SBI), is effective at reducing drinking for a year or more and in many studies also has been shown to reduce alcohol-related harms, such as motor-vehicle crashes and driving violations. Its efficacy is supported by numerous randomized controlled trials and multiple meta-analyses; as a result, the U.S. Dacomitinib Prevention Task Force has listed it as a Type B recommendation for medical prevention services (Babor et al.