Alcohol (ethanol) use disorders are prevalent in many countries and ar
e associated with significant social and health costs. Little is known
, however, about the comparative cost effectiveness of treatments for
alcoholism. Pharmaco-economic evaluations are largely (if not wholly)
absent from the alcoholism treatment outcome database. We discuss phar
macological approaches to the treatment of alcohol withdrawal and depe
ndence, describing agents that ameliorate withdrawal symptoms, deter a
lcohol consumption, reduce alcohol craving and produce conditioned alc
ohol aversion. Cost-relevant clinical considerations are elucidated an
d recommendations for cost-conscious pharmacological treatment of alco
hol dependence are proffered.