Deaths attributable to alcohol have increased by 29%, according to recently released CDC data. (See below for additional coverage of this news.)

Preventing death — the most severe potential consequence of alcohol use disorder — leads many to think of acute medical care, including alcohol withdrawal management, hospitalization, and liver transplants. Those are critical lifesaving components of the healthcare continuum.

But the best way to reduce alcohol-related deaths is by intervening far earlier in the downward spiral that characterizes the most severe cases of alcohol use disorder. Our goal should be to ensure that far fewer of the 29.5 million Americans with alcohol use disorder ever reach a point where their life is in danger.

That means offering everyone who wants to drink less or quit an approachable, evidence-based place to start. Too often, the traditional treatment industry puts up barriers instead: prohibitive costs, long wait times, an insistence on abstinence as the only legitimate goal, and so on.

Even trained healthcare professionals can do better. As Dr. Cara Poland observes in an article featured below, “A 2021 study found that of people who met the criteria for AUD, 80% had seen a doctor in the past year, but only 12% had been advised to cut down on their drinking, and just 5% were offered treatment information ...

Why aren’t current and future physicians equipped to treat AUD with the same facility as other chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma?”

The clear and overwhelming need for more approachable AUD treatment options is our guiding light at Oar Health. Starting with a daily pill to drink less, we hope to be your partner in taking back control over alcohol. We support goals of moderation as well as sobriety. We encourage members to assemble the recovery toolkit that fits them best working with partners like SMART Recovery, but don’t require tons of onerous meetings.

If you believe that our country has a drinking problem, then a population health approach is required to solve it. A key pillar must be easy access to treatment for those who need it and approachable tools for those want them. We hope to be one of those tools.

‍Let us know what you think about how we can reduce alcohol-related deaths by sending an email to newsletter@oarhealth.com.

"I have been a heavy user of alcohol for about 10 years and a regular drinker since college. (I’m now aged 60). I have tried over the past two years to cut back but I was constantly deceiving myself that I was having an effect.  

My weight crept up over these years to a point that I felt self-conscious. Alcohol was affecting my life in all aspects. I could not go anywhere if there was not alcohol there. I was losing so much time being hungover and staying in bed late.  

I heard about naltrexone and Oar via my alcoholic sister (it worked for her). Being a pharmaceutical scientist, I read extensively about the pharmacology before trying it.  

For me, change was not instant. It took about five to six months before I decided I did not like drinking anymore. But, in the meantime, my thoughts about alcohol were changing. It was becoming less important and I lost my paranoia that alcohol might not be available.

After eight months, I really don't care to drink anymore (which is my goal). Plus, I have lost so much weight. Yes, in my case real impact was not instant, but the literature shows it can take a year with some people. I recommend it to anyone battling alcohol."

‍— P, Oar Member

SMART Recovery is an evidence-informed recovery method that supports people with substance dependencies or problem behaviors to build and maintain motivation; cope with urges and cravings; manage thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and live a balanced life.

SMART Recovery’s resources include a toolkit of self-help worksheets, handbooks, and free meetings, online or in person. Meetings are guided by trained facilitators and typically structured around the use of a SMART Recovery tool.

We love SMART Recovery because it is supportive of medication-assisted recovery, evidence-informed, non-judgemental, and committed to empowering participants to achieve independence from addiction.

We love SMART Recovery so much that we are proud to be an official partner and to host a weekly SMART Recovery meeting. If you are interested in learning more about SMART Recovery, we invite you to join our meeting, which is free and open to the public via Zoom.

Alcohol-Related Deaths Spike by 29% In US, But Opioid Crisis Overshadows Alcohol Use Disorder [Behavioral Health Business]
‍“The number of people who died from alcohol-related reasons per year increased by more than 40,000 within six years, new CDC data revealed. Yet, alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains overlooked in the substance use disorder (SUD) industry, which is laser-focused on the opioid crisis, industry insiders told Addiction Treatment Business. More work needs to be done to educate the general public, primary care providers and the behavioral health industry to address the impact of AUD and excessive alcohol consumption.”

‍Alcohol-Related Deaths Are Spiking. So Why Don’t We Take Alcohol Addiction More Seriously? [Association of American Medical Colleges]
‍“Physicians can play a huge role in preventing, detecting, and treating excessive alcohol use, but we are not doing nearly enough. A 2021 study found that of people who met the criteria for AUD, 80% had seen a doctor in the past year, but only 12% had been advised to cut down on their drinking, and just 5% were offered treatment information. Although individual medical schools and teaching hospitals have made progress, we need better AUD training. Why aren’t current and future physicians equipped to treat AUD with the same facility as other chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma?”

‍Shortage of alcohol dependency drug threatens many in recovery — at a time when booze sales are up [PhillyVoice]
“Naltrexone tablets, a form of medication-assisted treatment, have been largely unavailable for several months, endangering those who rely on it to stave off cravings.”

‍The Top Cause of Alcohol-Related Deaths Can Go Undetected For Years [New York Times]
‍“Alcohol-related liver disease is the leading cause of death from excessive drinking — and while it’s curable in the earliest stages, many people don’t realize they have it until it’s too late to reverse.”

‍Alcohol and Your Brain: The Latest Scientific Insights [Psychology Today]
‍“There is no debate here: Excessively high levels of alcohol consumption over short periods of time are toxic and potentially deadly, specifically because of its effects on the brain.”