CLINICAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE COSTS OF ALCOHOLISM

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.