2025 ADLM President Talk - Alcohol Testing Can Be Intoxicating: New Makers, Challenges, & Case Studies

Course overview

In 2023, over 38 million American adults battled a substance use disorder with over 28 million people suffering specifically from an alcohol use disorder. In the United States, excessive alcohol use is responsible for over 140,000 deaths and over $249 billion in economic costs. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening and behavioral intervention for alcohol as one of the most cost effective clinical preventative services. Newer laboratory tests to assess alcohol use and guide or monitor treatment and recovery are available. This presentation will discuss direct alcohol biomarkers, especially ethyl glucuronide and phosphatidylethanol and highlight the advantages and challenges using laboratory tests to assess alcohol use with clinical case studies.