Activity Description

Unhealthy alcohol use, including alcohol use disorders, has significantly increased over the past decade. In 2021, alcohol use disorders were the most prevalent substance use disorders in the United States. Alcohol use disorders are associated with a number of medical conditions, including alcohol-associated liver disease, high healthcare utilization (ED visits, hospitalizations, alcohol hepatitis-associated liver transplantations), morbidity, and mortality. In this talk, Dr. Lambert will review the current state of alcohol use disorders, its healthcare system impact and utilization. He will describe the increasing prevalence of the dual pathology of alcohol use disorders and associated liver disease, including the advanced liver disease entity of AUD-cirrhosis. Dr. Lambert will review the current state of AUD-cirrhosis management. He will discuss an addiction-focused and multidisciplinary approach to the effective treatment and management of AUD-cirrhosis.

Target Audience

MD, DO, Pharmacist, Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Dentist, Dietician, Audiologist, Sonographer, Licensed Practical Nurse, Nurse Anesthetist, Therapist, Optometrist, Surgeon, Psychiatrist, Anesthesiologist, Podiatrist, Registered Nurse, Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician, Other

Goals and Objectives

Alcohol use disorders are the most prevalent substance use disorders in the United States, and despite FDA-approved and evidence-based pharmacotherapy is widely underappreciated and undertreated. Alcohol use disorders cause associated liver disease, including the dual pathology of AUD and alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AUD-cirrhosis).

AUD-cirrhosis, pre-pandemic and increasingly during the pandemic, has been associated with significant societal and healthcare costs, healthcare utilization, morbidity and mortality. Recent population studies have demonstrated the life-saving impact of pharmacotherapy for persons with alcohol use disorders and AUD-cirrhosis. This activity will highlight the critical need to understand alcohol use disorders and AUD-cirrhosis, the benefits of pharmacotherapy and the importance of providers adopting a personalized approach to the person with AUD-cirrhosis to address this emerging public health crisis.

At the conclusion of the activity, learners should be better prepared to:

• Explain the epidemiology, neurobiology, diagnosis, and morbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUDs).
• Understand the dual pathology of AUDs and alcohol-associated advanced liver disease, clinical entity of AUD-cirrhosis.
• Identify the importance of current pharmacologic and behavioral treatment approaches to AUD.
• Recognize the importance of an addiction-focused approach to AUD-cirrhosis management.

Course Information

CME Release Date:  April 22, 2024
Valid for credit through:  April 21, 2027
Course type: Enduring Material
Estimated time of completion: 1 hour
Maximum number of attempts: 3
Passing Score: 70%

Credits Available

Southern Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Southern Medical Association designates this Live Course activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

System Requirements and Instructions for Participation and Credit

System Requirements

• Learners must have Adobe Reader installed in order to view course content.
• The website is supported by the latest versions of most modern web browsers. In order to experience the website fully, please upgrade to the latest version of one of the following browsers: Google Chrome (recommended), Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Apple Mobile Safari.
• JavaScript must be enabled. JavaScript should be enabled by default in your browser, but if not then please consult your browser's Help section for information on how to change this setting. Upgrade your browser to a version that supports JavaScript 1.2 or higher (see browser list above).
• Connection Speed Requirements - DSL or faster

Instructions for Participation and Credit

This activity is designed to be completed within the time designated; learners should claim only those credits that reflect the time actually spent in the activity. 

To successfully earn credit, participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period noted, following these steps:

• Read the goals and objectives, accreditation information, and author disclosures.
• Login in below to study the educational content and references.
• Complete the evaluation and quiz.

Upon successful completion of these components, your certificate will be processed and emailed from customerservice@sma.org. Credits will be archived for 6 years; at any point within this time period you may login to your account to print a duplicate copy of your certificate.