However, at higher levels of alcohol use, there are increasing rates of alcohol associated medical problems such as accidents and illnesses.
Alcohol dependence is a clinical syndrome in which there is a cluster of alcohol related symptoms.
Despite problems with alcohol, an individual continues to drink. Physicians should screen all patients for alcohol use and alcohol related problems. Despite the high prevalence of alcohol related problems in medical settings, physicians often do not feel prepared to screen or treat alcohol problems. By adding the numbers of each answer, a score is developed that ranges from 0 to 12. Brief interventions are often used by primary care physicians and can be effective in non alcohol dependent subjects.