Alcohol is a well-known risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality. Health care providers have an important role in prevention efforts by identifying alcohol use disorders and supporting efforts to reduce binge drinking, conducting screening and counseling patients, and strengthening state and local policies. This article identifies alcohol harms that contribute to ill health, reviews recent and updated alcohol use guidelines, reviews the evidence for the relationship between alcohol use and injuries, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests some pertinent roles for health care providers in preventing alcohol-related harms.
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