Author's Welcome and Introduction

Dear Counselor,

I am pleased to present you with this continuing education activity, Helping You to Help Your Patients: An Introduction to Medication for Alcohol Dependence. This comprehensive guide that I have helped develop includes the following components:

1. Slide presentations with recorded notes. There is an in-depth, two-part slide presentation with recorded narration, which addresses the epidemiology of alcohol dependence and misuse, the available pharmacotherapeutic options for treating alcohol dependence and abuse, psychosocial interventions, and how both medications and psychosocial interventions can work together to impact abstinence.
(View Part 1 | View Part 2 )

2. Case studies. There are two case studies that represent narratives similar to those you may encounter in your practice. They are designed to illustrate how both psychosocial support and medications can work together to help patients maintain abstinence. (View the case studies)

3. Resource list. For your reference, we have also provided a list of organizations that are valuable resources for counselors looking for the most up-to-date information on dealing with alcohol dependence and other addictive disorders. (Download the resource list - PDF, 25k)

4. Patient education materials. Finally, there are a set of pages that I invite you to print, copy, and share with your patients as you feel appropriate. I believe they can be an excellent tool in educating and assisting patients with alcohol dependence. (Download the patient education materials - PDF, 397K)

This activity has been made possible through an educational grant from Alkermes and Cephalon, and you can obtain 2.0 CEUs for completing this activity.

I hope that you find these materials valuable and the tools provided useful in assisting your patients in making changes in their lives and coping with the complexities of alcohol dependence and misuse.

Sincerely,

Carlo C. DiClemente, PhD
Professor, Department of Psychology
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland