Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Alcohol - problem drinking
In the right clinical topic?

Age from 18 years onwards

This CKS topic is based on the public health guidance Alcohol-use disorders: preventing the development of hazardous and harmful drinking [NICE, 2010c] and the clinical guideline Alcohol-use disorders: diagnosis and clinical management of alcohol-related physical complications [NICE, 2010a], both of which are published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Another clinical guideline, Alcohol use disorders: diagnosis and clinical management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, will address many of the issues not covered by the other NICE guidelines and is due to be published in January 2011 [NICE, 2010e].

The NICE guidelines are complementary to two other national guidelines that have already been reviewed for this topic, the Review of the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems, by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse [Raistrick et al, 2006], and The management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in primary care guideline by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) [SIGN, 2003].

This CKS topic covers the screening and identification of the hazardous and harmful drinker, and the person who is dependent on alcohol. It covers the management of the hazardous and harmful drinker, the appropriate referral or admission of the person who is dependent on alcohol, and community-based withdrawal in the person who is dependent on alcohol where referral is not possible or necessary.

This CKS topic does not specifically cover problem drinking in pregnancy, the management of acute alcohol intoxication, the management of problem drinking in younger people and children (younger than 18 years of age), or the management of alcohol-related disabilities (psychological, physical, or social).

There are separate CKS topics on Benzodiazepine and z-drug withdrawal, Bipolar disorder, Depression, and Opioid dependence.

The target audience for this CKS topic is healthcare professionals working within the NHS in England, and providing first contact or primary health care. Patient information from NHS Choices is intended to be printed and given to people with this condition or their carers.

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement