Veterans Hospitalized for Alcohol Use Disorder Often Miss Medication Initiation Opportunities

Alcohol use disorder remains a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States, yet evidence-based pharmacotherapies like naltrexone and acamprosate continue to be underutilized in clinical practice [1]. While these medications are established first-line treatments that significantly reduce the risk of returning to heavy drinking, many patients never receive a prescription even after experiencing severe alcohol-related health crises [2, 1]. Hospitalization for alcohol-related complications provides a unique window for clinicians to initiate long-term recovery strategies, including both oral and extended-release injectable formulations [3, 4]. However, the transition from acute inpatient stabilization to outpatient maintenance is a period of high clinical vulnerability where many patients are lost to follow-up [5]. A retrospective cohort study of the Veterans Health Administration system now examines how often this inpatient opportunity is utilized and which patient populations are most likely to be left without pharmacological support.