In recent years, there has been much discussion over the ways substance use disorders — particularly alcohol use disorders — have manifested themselves around the world. This has been acutely clear since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the overall global burden of disease and injury is attributed to alcohol at 5.1%.
What are we doing right -- and getting wrong — in addressing hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders today? What interventions are in place, and how can we come together as a global community to address these chronic health issues that affect people from all walks of life, all over the globe? To discuss all of this, our host -- journalist Brian Mastroianni -- speaks with Dr. James MacKillop — he’s a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, who led a global team of researchers who co-authored a paper in Nature Reviews Disease Primers on the current state of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders around the world.
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Many people struggling with alcohol-related health issues might benefit from outpatient treatment, which provides support without uprooting their daily lives. This approach allows individuals to work on managing their health and habits in a structured environment while staying connected to family and work. Reducing alcohol-related diseases worldwide is a complex challenge, but by making outpatient care more accessible, we can help more people recover and lead healthier lives, ultimately lightening the burden on both individuals and healthcare systems globally.