How prescribing available pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder can impact the healthcare system: A retrospective quality improvement study

Alcohol use disorder is a multifactorial undertreated chronic disorder influenced by genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Numerous pharmacotherapies are available and effective but are underutilized in healthcare. The purpose of this retrospective quality improvement study is to determine the impact of education sessions on the availability and efficacy of medications (focusing on Naltrexone) to treat alcohol use disorder in the healthcare system. Control charts were implemented to monitor the system change in two comparable urban areas. Dispensing rates increased at three points after a series of presentations. The first increase from baseline was 2.47 times, the second 3.7, and the third 4.81. Coinciding with these, weekly visits to the emergency department also decreased by 35% and stabilized at a 15% reduction. It was also observed that alcohol use disorder hospital admission rates decreased by 21%, but bounced back once the education sessions ended. Combined with counselling, pharmacotherapies can be effective in combating alcohol use disorder, while potentially reducing demands on the healthcare system.