Screening for and Managing At-Risk Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) During COVID-19

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The following condition-specific resources were developed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, when necessity required deviation from existing evidence-based guidelines as in-person visits were significantly limited. Certain frameworks and guidance within the resources are applicable only to the “crisis care” needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and should be reviewed with this consideration in mind. Established Clinical Practice Guidelines are the authoritative source for evidence-based care for each condition.

This resource is designed to support family physicians and primary care nurse practitioners in screening, diagnosing and treating at-risk drinking and AUD in adults (>18 years) during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key considerations when managing at-risk drinking and AUD during the pandemic

For Ontario providers

Use the following billing codes when counseling your patients:

  • A680 – Initial Assessment, Substance Use Service provider: Physician; Fee: $144.75; Service description: This service is an assessment requiring a physician to spend a minimum of 50 minutes assessing a patient related to substance use. The 50 minutes must be spent in personal contact with the patient (and/or the patient’s representative), and this time must be exclusive of time spent rendering any other service to the patient.
  • K680 – Extended Assessment, Substance Use Service provider: Physician; Fee: $62.75 (per unit); Service description: The extended assessment for substance use is a time-based code for providing care to patients who are receiving therapy for substance use (not management of smoking cessation). The service specific elements of assessment (e.g., a direct physician encounter [by the physician submitting the claim] with the patient, including taking a patient history and performing the required physical examination, etc.). This service is payable in units of time. A unit is 30 minutes.
  • LU531 – Limited Use Acamprosate
  • LU532 – Limited Use Naltrexone


Click on the sections below for intervention-based guidance for managing at-risk drinking and AUD during COVID-19:

Expand All

Screen, categorize and diagnose patients with AUD

Screen

Shift to
  • Screening more often than yearly, particularly patients with mental health concerns or those who are going into self-isolation.
  • Email or message the AUDIT-10: Self-report version to patients for completion. Please note the form is also available to complete on OCEAN.
  • Use the Single Alcohol Screener (SASQ) for virtual appointments if time is limited.
Provider resources
  • Single Alcohol Screener (SASQ) Ask: how many times in the past year have you had [4 (women) or 5 (men)] or more drinks on one occasion? Once or more is a positive screen.
Patient resources

Screening with SASQ vs AUDIT-10

Evidence supports the use of brief instruments as an initial screener (SASQ), followed by a longer instrument with greater specificity (AUDIT) (USPSTF Recommendation Statement, 2018).

The SASQ has adequate sensitivity of 73% to 88% and specificity of 74% to 100% for detecting the full spectrum of unhealthy alcohol use in adults (USPSTF Recommendation Statement, 2018; USPSTF Evidence Report and Systematic Review, 2018).

When should the SASQ be used:

  • The SASQ requires less than 1 minute to administer and is ideal for (USPSTF Recommendation Statement, 2018):
    • Patient encounters with limited time.
    • Universal screening during routine visits.
  • When using the SASQ and the patient answers:
    • No – make note of the patient’s response to the SASQ and follow-up is not required.
    • Yes – follow-up using the AUDIT-10 either in-person or by sending it to your patient using a virtual modality such as email for a follow-up appointment.

Evidence supports the use of brief instruments as an initial screener (SASQ), followed by a longer instrument with greater specificity (AUDIT) (USPSTF Recommendation Statement, 2018).

The AUDIT-10 has a wide range of sensitivity of 38% to 73% but high specificity of 89% to 97% for detecting the full spectrum of unhealthy alcohol use in adults (USPSTF Evidence Report and Systematic Review, 2018).

When should the AUDIT-10 be used:

  • The AUDIT-10 requires 2-5 minutes to administer and is ideal for (USPSTF Recommendation Statement, 2018):
    • If the patient answers yes to the SASQ.
    • If there is a history/current suspected problematic alcohol use, it should be the first and only screening tool used.

Categorize

Continue
  • Use the AUDIT-10 to categorize people as low-risk (<8), risky (8-15) , high risk for AUD (>15).
Provider resources

Patients who score >15 on the AUDIT-10 (high risk for AUD): Further assess and diagnose

Continue
Delay
  • Postpone physical examinations and laboratory tests unless a patient has severe AUD, known liver disease or symptoms thereof and/or other end-organ damage.
Provider resources
Patient resources

Manage and treat patients with AUD

Manage with counseling

Continue
  • Due to the history of discrimination in the health care system for patients with substance use disorders, it is important to demonstrate empathy and compassionate care to your patients.
  • Offer frequent supportive counselling and follow-up visits until the patient is stabilized. The frequency of visits will depend on the patient, their needs and the severity of their AUD.
    • See Non-pharmacotherapy options in the CEP AUD tool for more information.
    • When patients are making changes and in periods of instability, visits should be every 1-2 weeks.
    • When patients are more stable, the visits may be less frequent.
  • Offer harm reduction strategies and help patients to prepare for disruptions in their alcohol supply if self-isolation is required (see harm reduction).
Shift to
  • Provide follow-up visits and counseling virtually when appropriate.
Provider resources
  • Ontario providers, use the following billing codes when counseling your patients:
    • A680 – Initial Assessment, Substance Use Service provider: Physician; Fee: $144.75; Service description: This service is an assessment requiring a physician to spend a minimum of 50 minutes assessing a patient related to substance use. The 50 minutes must be spent in personal contact with the patient (and/or the patient’s representative), and this time must be exclusive of time spent rendering any other service to the patient.
    • K680 – Extended Assessment, Substance Use Service provider: Physician; Fee: $62.75 (per unit); Service description: The extended assessment for substance use is a time-based code for providing care to patients who are receiving therapy for substance use (not management of smoking cessation). The service specific elements of assessment (e.g., a direct physician encounter [by the physician submitting the claim] with the patient, including taking a patient history and performing the required physical examination, etc.). This service is payable in units of time. A unit is 30 minutes.
    • LU531 – Limited Use Acamprosate
    • LU532 – Limited Use Naltrexone
Patient resources

Manage with first-line medications

Shift to
  • Offer and prescribe naltrexone or acamprosate virtually.
Delay
  • Consider delaying testing of liver enzymes for up to two weeks after starting medication unless a patient has severe AUD, known liver disease or symptoms thereof and/or other end-organ damage.
  • Consider previous lab results from all sources to see if a patient has completed liver enzyme tests in the past.
Provider resources
Patient resources

Refer to mental health and addiction services

Shift to
Provider and patient resources

Information hubs that can be used to locate various services in Ontario:

 

*Drug Rehab Services directory is a paid advertising directory and the CEP does not endorse the use of these paid advertisements

Harm reduction

Continue
  • Demonstrate understanding if patient is not ready to make changes. Not all patients will be receptive towards making a change and seeking treatment.
  • Let your patient know that they can always get back in touch if their readiness for treatment changes. Use validated tools, such as Assessing Readiness to Change – Transtheoretical Model (PCNA), to assist in gauging your patients’ readiness.
  • Maintain relationship with your patient, demonstrate empathy and respect for their decision.
Shift to
  • Supporting patients with physical dependence on alcohol to create a personalized plan during the pandemic.
    • This plan can help to prepare patients if their alcohol supply is disrupted or if self-isolation is required to avoid precipitating withdrawal and/or patient consumption of toxic alcohols. Building a personalized plan with your patient can also help support their nutrition/food security, environment, and management of co-morbidities. Provide your patients with the Coping During COVID-19 (North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit) resource for strategies to promote healthy living.
Provider and patient resources

Support a planned withdrawal

Continue
  • Emphasize to patients to not abruptly stop their drinking.
  • If you do not have expertise in managing alcohol withdrawal, refer patients to a substance use specialist to manage the withdrawal process (where available). Connect with specialists using OTN eConsult.
    • If prescribing benzodiazepines, please consider the risks of benzodiazepine use in this patient population and consider the use of long-acting benzodiazepines, such as diazepam, over short-acting ones as they have been shown to be more effective at preventing complications.
  • Refer a patient to the emergency department for urgent/emergent treatment.
Shift to
  • Provide virtual assessments for those who are unlikely to need medical management.
Delay
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to non-medical withdrawal beds (detox beds) may be limited. Consider delaying outpatient or inpatient withdrawal management if this is the case and assist patients with a slow taper using supportive counselling and consideration of naltrexone. See additional guidance for planned alcohol reduction to achieve abstinence.
Provider resources
  • To determine if your patient is likely to need medical management for withdrawal, see the Alcohol withdrawal section in the CEP AUD tool.
  • For more information on withdrawal management, see Portico Network.
Patient resources

Additional guidance for planned alcohol reduction to achieve abstinence

If there is limited availability of non-medical withdrawal beds (detox beds) and formal medically monitored and managed alcohol withdrawal programs, but the patient is intent on reducing or discontinuing alcohol use during the pandemic, then consider guiding them through a slow taper instead:

  • Tapering should take a gradual approach of weeks to months.
  • Consider prescribing naltrexone to assist with alcohol cravings.
  • Advise patient to monitor and record their alcohol intake closely.
  • Consider a slow taper of 10% of intake every 7 to 14 days, but directed by patient goals and symptoms.
  • Monitor patient virtually at least weekly and assess for withdrawal symptoms within 12 hours of the last reduction. 
  • Familiarize the patient with the signs and symptoms of withdrawal.
  • Let your patient know that if this method of a planned alcohol reduction is not successful an alternative is outpatient or in-patient medically-assisted withdrawal.
  • Consult a specialist if tapering needs to be done rapidly (e.g. prior to surgery).

Virtual patient resources for at-risk drinking and AUD

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many resources to support patients are now available virtually. The following is a list of virtual resources that you can use in the management of your care.

General

Tips for safer drinking during the pandemic

(e.g. establishing safer drinking habits, managing alcohol supplies, understanding withdrawal)

Apps that can help track alcohol consumption and help with reduction
  • Drink Less is an app that helps identify your current blood alcohol concentration, and evaluate and monitor your alcohol usage (Android and iOS app; no costs affiliated; privacy policy that ensures user information is secure).
  • Saying When is an app that helps individuals interested in quitting drinking or just cutting down to get their drinking under control (Android and iOS app; no costs affiliated; privacy policy that ensures user information is secure).

Psychological and social interventions for addictions

Ontario MHA Information hubs
  • ConnexOntario online directory or call 1.866.531.2600 for mental health and addictions services.
  • Drug Rehab Services* directory identifies local services in your area.
  • eMentalHealth directory for youth and young adults specific resources and programs.
  • 211Ontario is an online database of programs and resources in your local community. It can be used to find counsellors and therapy in your area.
Addiction treatment programs (day programs)
  • ConnexOntario for availability of remotely offered addiction treatment programs in your local area.
  • Drug Rehab Services* directory for a list of alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation centres in Ontario.
Community reinforcement therapy
  • Togetherall is an online peer-to-peer support community for your mental health (costs may be affiliated).
  • Alcoholics Anonymous is a peer-based support group to help members stay sober and help others achieve sobriety (no costs affiliated).
  • SMART Recovery is a peer-based support groups that offers self-empowered addiction recovery. SMART Recovery Online is now available (no costs affiliated).
  • In the Rooms is an online recovery tool that offers 130 weekly online meetings for those recovering from addiction and related issues (no costs affiliated).
Counselling
  • Breaking Free is an evidence-based digital behaviour change program that allows people to recognize and actively address the psychological and lifestyle issues that are driving their use of alcohol (note: it is always free to those who use it, but they need a service code to set up an account. Service codes are provided by licensed organizations, such as healthcare providers and addiction services, who want to make Breaking Free available to those in their care).
  • Inkblot helps match people with a therapist based on an individual’s personal preferences (costs affiliated – check health coverage plan to see if it will cover the costs).
Mental health resources for substance use
  •  AbilitiCBT is an internet-based CBT (iCBT) program that you can access from any device at any time (no costs affiliated for Ontario residents).
  • Beacon provides digitally-delivered CBT with the one-on-one support of a dedicated therapist all along the way (no costs affiliated for Ontario residents).
  • Wellness Together Canada connects individuals to mental health and substance use support (including CBT), resources, and counselling with a mental health professional (no costs affiliated).
Motivational enhancement therapy
  • ConnexOntario  or 1.866.531.2600 to connect with a System Navigation Specialist who can direct you to local programs offering motivational interviewing in your area.
  • Psychology Today Locate motivational interviewing centres in Ontario usingo their nline directory of professionals (costs affiliated – check health coverage plan to see if it will cover the costs).
  • Addiction Rehab Toronto motivational interviewing is available (costs affiliated – check health coverage plan to see if it will cover the costs).
Trauma therapy
  • CAMH (2019) has compiled a comprehensive list of trauma programs available in the province. Note: availability of online offerings must be checked with the individual trauma program.
  • Psychology Today: locate trauma and PTSD therapists in Ontario using their online directory of professionals (costs affiliated – check health coverage plan to see if it will cover the costs).
Identifying signs of withdrawal

* Drug Rehab Services directory is a paid advertising directory and the CEP does not endorse the use of these paid advertisements.