What is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a medical condition where a person cannot consistently control or stop alcohol use despite negative social, occupational, or health consequences.

Because alcohol use is socially normalized, drinking can easily escalate from unharmful to harmful without noticing. If you’re concerned that drinking may be negatively impacting your health or wellbeing, or if a loved one has expressed concern, it may be time to cut back. If you want to cut back but struggle to do so, we have safe and effective medical treatment options to help.

The Cost of Untreated AUD

Alcohol is toxic to almost every organ in the body when misused over time:

• Physical Health: High blood pressure, liver disease (cirrhosis), increased risk of cancer, and neurological damage.

• Daily Functioning: Memory blackouts, sleep disturbances, and chronic fatigue.

• Social Impact: It is a leading cause of accidental injury and often a primary source of conflict in relationships and families.

Our Medical Approach

We use FDA-approved medications to support your recovery:

• Naltrexone: Inhibits cravings and the “reward” effects of alcohol, reducing the urge to drink.

• Acamprosate: Similar but somewhat less effective than naltrexone for most patients. Has an important role when preferred, or when naltrexone can’t be used.

For some patients with alcohol use disorder, particularly those also experiencing diabetes, obesity, or opioid use disorder, GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic (popular for weight loss) may have some off-label benefit for reducing drinking and alcohol cravings.

We also address other mental and physical health conditions to improve your success in AUD care and overall wellbeing. Commonly, this may include depression, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, infections, or sleep disturbances.

Expectations & Outcomes

• Reduction vs. Abstinence: We support your goals, whether that is total abstinence or a reduction in drinking.

• Health Restoration: Many physical effects of alcohol misuse, such as liver inflammation and high blood pressure, can begin to reverse within weeks of treatment.