Substance Use Disorders
Trends in Alcohol Use Among Pregnant Women in the U.S., 2011–2018
Alcohol is a teratogen, a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in the U.S., and the cause of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.1 The prevalence of these disorders ranges from 1.1% to 5.0% among first graders in 4 U.S. communities.2 Alcohol use has been increasing among reproductive-aged women.3 This study investigates increased alcohol use during pregnancy using national data from 2011 to 2018.Screening for Alcohol Misuse: Practices Among U.S. Primary Care Providers, DocStyles 2016
Excessive alcohol use is associated with car crashes, violence, and multiple disease conditions, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care providers screen all adults and conduct brief counseling interventions with those who misuse alcohol. The USPSTF prefers use of three screening tools that measure alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Single Question) because these tools detect the full spectrum of alcohol misuse in adults.Self-Reported Prevalence of Alcohol Screening Among U.S. Adults
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends for adults alcohol screening and brief behavioral counseling interventions in primary care settings. However, there is a paucity of population-based data on the prevalence of alcohol screening. This study examines adherence to this U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation by estimating the prevalence of alcohol screening by demographic characteristics and binge drinking.
