Supporting Patients in Reducing Alcohol-Related Risks
Created: December 2025
Online Course
Overview
This 2-hour, self-paced online course equips healthcare professionals with practical tools to identify unhealthy alcohol use, engage patients in nonjudgmental conversations, and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. Topics include the medical and psychiatric consequences of alcohol misuse, validated screening tools, motivational interviewing techniques, practical harm-reduction strategies, and indications for prescribing evidence-based medications. By the end of the course, learners will feel more confident engaging patients, tailoring interventions to individual needs, and connecting them with resources to improve outcomes.
The target audience for this introductory course is physicians, nurses, PAs, social workers, and counselors seeking confidence in addressing alcohol use.
This activity addresses the following ACGME Competencies: Interprofessional Communication, Patient-centered Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, and Systems-based Practices.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion, learners will be able to:
Recognize the impact of heavy drinking on morbidity and mortality.
Explain how reductions in alcohol use (not only abstinence) improve outcomes.
Use screening and early intervention tools (AUDIT, SBIRT) during clinical encounters.
Demonstrate effective communication strategies, including motivational interviewing.
Identify when and how to recommend evidence-based treatments, including medications for AUD and behavioral supports, as part of strategies to reduce harm.
Registration Rates
ASAM Learner Type
Rate
ASAM Member
$0
Non-Member
$0
Associate Member
$0
Resident Member*
$0
Student Member*
$0
*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate.Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.
Membership Question? Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.
Refunds & Cancellations
All ASAM e-Learning Center refund requests must be made in writing to Education@ASAM.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or e-Learning Center credit.
Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.
Open Registration: 12/22/2025 - 11/22/2028
Close Access Date: 12/22/2028
Acknowledgement
This content has been made available in part by an unrestricted educational grant from the Scaife Family Foundation. No input or influence from the Scaife Family Foundation was included in the development of the educational content. As an ACCME Provider, ASAM follows the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence for Accredited Continuing Education stating that owners and employees of ineligible companies are excluded from participating as planners or faculty, and must not be allowed to influence or control any aspect of the planning, delivery, or evaluation of accredited continuing education.
Instructions
Click on the Contents tab to begin this activity.
Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. You will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 7 out of 10 questions correctly.
Click Complete Evaluation and Complete Presenter Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM e-Learning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.
Need Assistance?
For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please check the FAQ page or e-mail Education@ASAM.org
ASAM is proud to offer eSSENTIAL Accessibility to ensure our website is accessible and functional for all our learners while providing free assistive technology for people with the widest possible range of abilities.
Michael Weaver
MD, DFASAM
Michael Weaver, MD, DFASAM is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction (CNRA) at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). He received his M.D. degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University, and completed Residency in Internal Medicine and a Clinical Research Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health System, and he is Board-certified in Internal Medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine and certified in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Weaver is the Sub-Board Chair for Addiction Medicine on the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and also serves as the Chair of the Examination Committee for certification in Addiction Medicine. He has been a member of ASAM for over 20 years and has been a member of the Publications Council and the Annual Conference Program Planning Committee. He is currently involved in patient care, medical education, and research. Dr. Weaver sees patients in the Innovations Addiction Treatment Clinic at the Texas Medical Center in Houston.
He has extensive experience teaching about addiction to medical students, residents, and community professionals at all levels. He has been involved in multiple research projects, and currently is collaborating with other researchers in the CNRA on studies involving cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and electronic cigarettes. Dr. Weaver has multiple publications in the field of addiction medicine, including the book "Addiction Treatment" published by Carlat Publishing in 2017.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Sarah Bagley
MD, MSc
Sarah Bagley, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Boston Medical Center. She completed a Combined Residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Brown and then an Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Boston University. Her clinical and research interest are related to the impact of substance use on families and in the treatment of adolescents with substance use disorders.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Akhil Anand, MD
Addiction Psychiatrist
Cleveland Clinic
Akhil Anand, MD is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist and the Clinical Lead of Cleveland Clinic’s Multidisciplinary Alcohol Program (MAP) Clinic. He also serves as Fellowship Director of the Case Western Reserve University / University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program and is a member of the Cleveland Clinic’s Psychiatric Treatment-Resistance Program, providing expert consultation for complex psychiatric cases. Prior to this role, he spent five years as the clinical co-lead of Cleveland Clinic’s inpatient alcohol and drug withdrawal unit. His academic interests center on alcohol use disorder, alcohol-associated liver disease, difficult-to-treat substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders. He enjoys teaching addiction management across disciplines and uses each opportunity to help improve patient care.
In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credits Available
Physicians: 2 Credits
Nurses & NPs: 2 Nursing Contact Hours
Pharmacology Hour: 0.25 Hour
PAs: 2 Credits
Social Workers: 2 Credits
Interprofessional Continuing Education: 2 Credits
Certified Counselors: 2 NBCC Contact Hours American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
NAADAC: 2 CE Credits
Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification Program (CCP)
This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. By completing the online credit application and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.
ABIM MOC Points: 2 Medical Knowledge | 2 Patient Safety
ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 2 Lifelong Learning | 2 Patient Safety MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American board of Anesthesiology®. This activity contributes to the CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, https://www.theaba.org/, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.
Additionally, this activity has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the following primary physician board certification requirements. Please confirm with your individual Board.
American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM)
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
Certificates for other professions
All participants may request a certificate of participation upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Learners are strongly advised to contact their professional licensing board or professional association to confirm this certificate will be accepted as evidence supporting continuing education requirements.
California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)
This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.
California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)
This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-0227.
Disclosure Information
In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education.
The complete list of disclosures and designation statements are linked below.
Up to 2.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Up to 2.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Attendees should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
Complete
Next
Failed
Available
Locked