According to the 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 29.5 million people ages 12 and older had Alcohol Use Disorder in the past year. Alcohol Use Disorder is a chronic and complex disease that affects thousands of patients every year. There are evidence-based approaches to treatment, including non-pharmacological interventions and medications. Understanding these options and misconceptions about treatment alternatives can help improve outcomes for patients.
This 4-hour introductory course provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of Alcohol Use Disorder, with a focus on treatment in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. This case-based, interactive, asynchronous course highlights the triage and management of patients with alcohol withdrawal syndromes and the successful transition to evidence-based pharmacotherapy. Adjunct behavioral therapies will also be discussed.
The target audience for this introductory course is clinical healthcare professionals who prescribe medications in the outpatient or inpatient settings.
This course addresses the following ACGME Competencies: Patient Care, Procedural Skills and Medical Knowledge.
Learning Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge of nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, and the epidemiology of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Identify which people are appropriate for inpatient management vs. outpatient management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS).
Discuss evidence-based methods of treatment for alcohol use disorder, including pharmacotherapy and behavioral treatments.
DEA Education Requirement
As an accredited organization named in Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, ASAM certifies that completion of this course meets the DEA requirement for 8 hours of education on substance use disorder(s).
Registration Rates
ASAM Learner Type
Rate
ASAM Member
$99
Non-Member
$139
Associate Member
$69
Resident Member*
$69
Student Member*
$69
*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 eLearning 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 eLearning Center credit.
Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.
Registration Deadline: 4/1/2026
User Access Closed: 5/1/2026
Acknowledgement
This content has been made available in part by an unrestricted educational grant from Alkermes. No input or influence from Alkermes 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.
Course Instructions
Click the Contents tab to begin the activity.
Complete the Course Overview and Modules 1-3.
Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 9 out of 12 questions correctly.
Click Complete Evaluation and Complete Evaluation - Presenters 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 eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.
For Pharmacists ONLY: Complete the task entitled "Enter Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information (Pharmacists Only)". Pharmacists must claim credit and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate via the Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information survey within 30 days of completing the activity. ASAM will not report CPE Credits claimed 30+ days after activity completion to ACPE. ASAM will not report CPE Credits without accurate and complete information. Courses offering CPE Credit will indicate the amount of credit available for pharmacists on the Credits & Disclosure Tab.
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Stephen Holt
MD, MS, FACP, FASAM
Dr. Holt has been an attending physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital since 2008 and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Yale Addiction Recovery Clinic and the Associate Program Director for Yale's Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program. He is board-certified in Addiction Medicine and Internal Medicine. He has published and lectures frequently on a variety of addiction medicine topics, and has won numerous teaching awards at the local, regional, and national level.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Shawn Cohen, MD
Addiction Medicine Doctor
Yale New Haven Hospital
Dr. Shawn Cohen is an addiction medicine doctor at Yale New Haven Hospital. He provides care on a hospital-based addiction consult service and is interested in lowering barriers to MOUD, improving the care of patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal, and making the hospital a more person-centered and less stigmatizing place for people who use substances.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Alyssa Peterkin
MD
Alyssa Peterkin, MD is an Instructor of Medicine Boston University School of Medicine and an internist at Boston Medical Center. Currently, she also serves as an associate program director for Grayken Addiction Medicine fellowship. She spends her clinical time working as a hospitalist, attending on the inpatient addiction consultation service and working in the substance use disorder urgent care. Her interests include educating learners at all levels and expanding access to addiction treatment.
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: 4 Credits
Nurses & NPs: 4 Nursing Contact Hours
Pharmacology Hours: 2 Hours
PAs: 4 Credits
Pharmacists: 4 Credits Pharmacists must claim credits within 30 days and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate. ASAM will not report credits claimed after 30 days or with incomplete information.
Social Workers: 4 Credits
Interprofessional Continuing Education: 4 Credits
Certified Counselors: 4 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.
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: 4 Medical Knowledge | 4 Practice Assessment
ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 4 Lifelong Learning 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 4.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Up to 4.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Enter Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information (Required for Pharmacists)
2 Questions
2 Questions
Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians are required to enter their CPE Monitor reporting information. All other health professionals, including physicians, social workers, nurses, etc., should skip this step.
Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians must claim credit and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate within 30 days of completing the activity. ASAM will not report CPE Credits claimed 30+ days after activity completion to ACPE. ASAM will not report CPE Credits without accurate and complete information.
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