Headline

Inpatient addiction consultation services improves access to medications to treat alcohol use disorder.

Context

Evidence-based medications to treat alcohol use disorder (MAUD) are highly underutilized. This study examined if inpatient addiction consultation services (ACS) were associated with increases in the initiation of MAUD for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Findings

The authors looked at a group of inpatient admissions for people who were diagnosed with AUD and received ACS consultations and compared it to a matched historical control admissions group. The population examined had severe medical conditions, comorbidity, and significant barriers to health access. The study showed patients who received ACS consultations were significantly more likely than the control group to be prescribed MAUD during hospitalization and upon discharge. This study also builds the research base for inpatient ACS in terms of broader access to treatment options.

Takeaways

Hospitalization can be an opportunity for patients with AUD to be offered evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, like MAUD. Hospitals and health systems can use this study to understand the significant association between ACS consultation and increased access to evidence-based treatment, including MAUD, for these patients. Given that AUD is the most common SUD in the U.S., and the significant underutilization of MAUD, policymakers may want to consider ways to support health systems in making MAUD more accessible to patients with AUD, including through the use of ACS consultation.