Background: Screening and treatment for unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is recommended but underutilized, particularly in inpatient settings. Initiating interventions during hospitalization can reduce UAU and may improve clinical outcomes. Methods: We implemented screening and treatment for UAU at a safety-net hospital in Austin, Texas. Nurses screen admitted patients with the [...]

Background: Patients with substance use disorders (SUD) are frequently cared for by hospitalists and admission presents an opportunity to engage patients in SUD treatment. Currently, patients with SUD are undertreated with medications to treat SUD, despite proven reduction in mortality. Addiction consult services are increasingly seen as an intervention to improve the quality of care [...]

Case Presentation: A 14-year-old female, with a past medical history of marijuana use and superior mesenteric artery syndrome, presented with tremors, auditory, and visual hallucinations of 1 day duration. Her vital signs were notable for tachycardia ~120 bpm and hypertension (141/89). Her exam was significant for generalized tremors, linear scars from prior self-harm, and tongue [...]

Case Presentation: A 35-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol use disorder, tobacco use, and malnutrition presented to the emergency department with a few days of yellow discoloration of the eyes. He denied fevers, headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dark or bloody stools, or urinary pain. He drank two [...]