Alkermes has officially published the results from a new survey, which was designed to understand utilization of and experiences with treatment among 300 adults between aged 21-64 who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD) by a healthcare provider.
Before we dig into the given survey’s results, we must acknowledge how AUD refers to a lack of ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational or health consequences. In fact, according to the U.S. 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 28 million adults aged 18 and older had AUD in the past year. However, even with such a staggering prevalence, only about 2 million would receive treatment.
“Despite increased awareness of AUD, many individuals living with this condition still struggle with stigma and feelings of shame, which can make it challenging to seek help. It’s important to understand that AUD is a medical condition—both diagnosable and treatable—with a range of effective treatment options, including medical and psychosocial supports,” said Sarah Church, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Founder and Executive Director of Wholeview in New York. “This survey demonstrates that engaging in treatment can lead to meaningful, positive outcomes and highlights the critical role that healthcare providers play in supporting patients throughout their recovery journey.”
Talk about the published results on a slightly deeper level, we begin from how an estimated 47% of respondents were diagnosed as the result of a hospital or emergency room (ER) visit because they were experiencing AUD symptoms or were involved in an alcohol-related incident, such as driving under the influence (DUI) or a car accident.
Next up, the report discovered that, for approximately one-third of respondents, diagnosis was driven by factors like personal concern about alcohol use and desire to discuss with their healthcare provider (36%); a visit with a healthcare provider about symptoms that ended up being related to their AUD (35%); and concerns or encouragement from a loved one to see a healthcare provider (32%).
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the way nearly 79% of the surveyed respondents said they had negative feelings when initially diagnosed, including feeling scared (38%), ashamed (33%), concerned (32%) and embarrassed (32%). Beyond this, 83% of those surveyed respondents also agreed that it’s difficult to treat/manage AUD through willpower alone.
A sizeable chunk of the surveyed contingent also reported receiving treatment for AUD at some point. You see, 70% reported currently being treated for AUD; 28% reported they have been treated in the past, but are no longer being treated. Against that, only 2% indicated they have never been treated for AUD.
Among those who had ever been treated for AUD, their motivation for seeking treatment included: negative impact of AUD on physical health (39%); negative impact of AUD on mental health (38%); advice from a healthcare provider (36%); advice/encouragement from family/friends (33%); and negative impact of AUD on day-to-day life (31%).
The respondents, who were found to be in their treatment journey, cited current use of a wide variety of treatment types. In essence, 50% were taking prescription medication; 46% were participating in behavioral therapy; 43% were involved in support group therapy; 43% were using alternative treatments; 42% were undergoing detox treatment; 38% were engaged in outpatient rehabilitation; and 32% were engaged in inpatient rehabilitation.
Almost like an extension of that, 80% respondents indicated that they had discussed the use of prescription medication to treat their AUD with a healthcare provider and, among those who currently use prescription medication to treat their AUD, 50% chose their current medication treatment because their healthcare provider recommended it.
“According to 2023 data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 28 million adults in the U.S. had alcohol use disorder in the past year, underscoring an ongoing crisis in this country. Despite the high prevalence of AUD, treatment rates and awareness of treatment options remain low,” said Kanchan Relwani, M.D., Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at Alkermes. “We remain committed to understanding the complex experiences of people living with AUD, including barriers and opportunities along their diagnosis and treatment journey.”
