USPSTF 2018 recommends screening for unhealthy alcohol use in adults 18 years or older (B recommendation)

Reference

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults. US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA 2018;320(18):1899-1909.

Synopsis

In this 2018 update, the task force found no studies that directly examined the benefits or harms of screening programs to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults, including pregnant women. The task force did, however, find adequate evidence that brief behavioral counseling in adults who screen positive for unhealthy alcohol use reduces alcohol use. No evidence supports screening or brief behavioral counseling in adolescents for reducing alcohol use. The task force also concludes that there is small to no risk of harm from screening and brief behavioral counseling interventions in adults and pregnant women. There is no evidence to suggest that patients of different race/ethnicity, sex, or socioeconomic status are more or less likely to benefit from interventions. The US Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend routine screening for unhealthy alcohol use in adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for alcohol use in all adolescents. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the World Health Organization recommend screening all women for unhealthy alcohol use before pregnancy and in their first trimester, and offering brief counseling to all pregnant women who do use alcohol.