Quality Standard Details
Problematic Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorder: Care for People 15 Years of Age and Older
- Publication Date
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2020-August-01
- Status
- Published
- Topic Area
- Mental Health and Addictions
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Problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder result in a substantial amount of preventable illness and premature death in Ontario, and better identification and treatment could improve and save many lives. Problematic alcohol use is common, and in 2015 approximately 3% of Canadian adults met the criteria for alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol accounts for more than half of hospitalizations attributed to substance use in Canada, with about 86,000 hospitalizations resulting from alcohol use in 2018/19. The economic costs of alcohol-related harms in Ontario were estimated to be $5.34 billion ($1.47 billion in direct health care costs).
This quality standard addresses care for people with problematic alcohol use or alcohol use disorder. It applies to all health care settings, including primary care, the emergency department, community mental health and addiction, and correctional settings. This quality standard provides guidance on helping people with problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder reduce their consumption or abstain from alcohol, and covers screening, assessment, and treatment options that address people’s needs and preferences.
Quality Standard in Brief
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Quality Statement 1: Screening
People who present to primary care, the emergency department, mental health and addictions settings, or other appropriate settings are screened for problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder using a validated tool.
Quality Statement 2: Brief Intervention
People who screen positive for problematic alcohol use are offered a brief intervention.
Quality Statement 3: Comprehensive Assessment
People who may have alcohol use disorder are offered a comprehensive assessment that informs their care plan.
Quality Statement 4: Care Plan
People with alcohol use disorder have an individualized care plan developed in collaboration with their health care professional that includes appropriate services and treatment goals. Care is seamlessly integrated, interprofessional, and provided in primary care or in collaboration with primary care.
Quality Statement 5: Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
People with alcohol use disorder who have withdrawal symptoms are offered assessment, treatment, and support tailored to the severity of their symptoms.
Quality Statement 6: Information and Education
People with alcohol use disorder and their caregivers are offered information, education, and support appropriate for their needs and preferences.
Quality Statement 7: Psychological and Social Interventions
People with alcohol use disorder are offered information on psychological and social interventions that address their needs and preferences.
Quality Statement 8: Medications to Reduce Alcohol Cravings or Consumption
People with alcohol use disorder have timely access to medications that reduce alcohol cravings or consumption based on their needs and preferences.
Quality Statement 9: Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders and Comorbid Physical Health Disorders
People with alcohol use disorder who also have a mental health disorder, physical health disorder, or another substance use disorder are offered treatment for their concurrent and comorbid disorders.
Quality Statement 10: Monitoring, Support, and Follow-Up
People with alcohol use disorder are offered ongoing follow-up with their health care professional on a regular basis to monitor treatment and response.
Supporting Documents
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Patient guide for this quality standard
Know what to ask for in your care
Placemat for this quality standard
A quick-reference resource for clinicians that summarizes the quality standard and includes links to helpful resources and tools
Quality improvement tools and resources for health care professionals, including an action plan template
Supplementary information to support the data collection and measurement process
Additional Resources
If you would like to receive these resources, please send us a message using our contact form:
- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Share why this standard was created and the data behind it, to get the support you need to put it into practice - Technical specifications
See the technical specifications for the indicators within the quality standard - Tools to support patient care
- Summary of the public feedback we received
- Case for improvement (slide deck)
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
