Alcohol Use Disorder and Concomitant Benzodiazepine Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder and Concomitant Benzodiazepine Use Disorder

Created: September 2025

Online Module

Overview 

This module provides an in-depth exploration of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and benzodiazepine use disorder (BUD). It focuses on diagnostic criteria, prevalence, and the substantial impact these disorders have on health and mortality rates, including accident-related fatalities. Learners will analyze the complexities of co-occurring AUD and BUD, particularly during intoxication and withdrawal, and will learn to identify high-risk situations associated with these disorders. They will utilize effective screening tools to assess AUD and BUD, determine appropriate levels of care, and implement evidence-based interventions. The module also covers an analysis of medications used for AUD and BUD, strategies for withdrawal management, and the development of return to use plans with a focus on strategies to reduce the risk of harm. 

The target audience for this activity includes all clinical healthcare professionals.

This activity addresses the following ACGME Competencies: Patient Care and Procedural Skills; Medical Knowledge and Professionalism.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion, learners will be able to: 

1. Differentiate between benzodiazepine use and benzodiazepine use disorder.
2. Assess and manage the complexities of patients with both AUD and benzodiazepine use/use disorder (BUD).
3. Identify the risks associated with concomitant AUD and benzodiazepine use/BUD during intoxication, withdrawal, and in high-risk situations.
4. Apply evidence-based practices for screening, diagnosis, and treatment planning for individuals with concomitant AUD and benzodiazepine use/BUD.
5. Evaluate the pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treatment for co-occurring AUD and benzodiazepine use/BUD.
6. Develop a personalized treatment plan for patients with both AUD and benzodiazepine use/BUD, incorporating patient-centered approaches.

Registration

This education is made available for free to all learners through grant funding by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant number 1H79TI086771-02 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Cancellations

All cancellation requests must be made in writing to pcssmaud@asam.org within 90 days of registration. Automatic cancellations and notifications will be made for any course with a live-activity component that has been cancelled.

Registration Deadline: 08/30/2027

Close Access Date: 09/30/2027

Instructions

1. Click on the Contents tab to begin this activity.
2. Click View Course to complete the on-demand module.
3. Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 10 attempts to pass and must answer 4 out of 5 questions correctly.
4. Click Complete GPRA Survey to complete the SAMHSA GPRA Survey.
5. Click Complete Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window. 
6. Click Complete Evaluation - Presenters to provide valuable presenter feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window. 
7. Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate.
8. For Pharmacists ONLY: Complete the task entitled "Enter Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information (Required for Pharmacists)". Pharmacists must claim credit and provide their eProfile ID and Birthdate via the Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information survey within 30 days of completing the activity. ASAM will not report CPE Credits claimed 30+ days after activity completion to ACPE. ASAM will not report CPE Credits without accurate and complete information. Courses offering CPE Credit will indicate the amount of credit available for pharmacists on the Credits & Disclosure Tab.

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please check the FAQ page, or contact pcssmaud@asam.org.

Accreditation & Credits

Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credits Available

• Physicians: 1.5 Credit(s)
• Nurses & NPs: 1.5 Nursing Contact Hour(s)
• Pharmacology Hour(s): 0.5 Hour(s)
• PAs: 1.5 Credit(s)
• Pharmacists: 1.5 Credit(s)
• Social Workers: 1.5 Credit(s)
• Interprofessional Continuing Education: 1.5 Credit(s)
• Certified Counselors: 1.5 NBCC Contact Hour(s)

 American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification Program (CCP)

This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. By completing the online credit application and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.

• ABIM MOC Points: 1.5 Medical Knowledge | 1.5 Patient Safety
• ABP MOC: 1.5 Lifelong Learning & Self-Assessment
• ABS Continuing Certification: 1.5 Accredited CME 
• ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 1.5 Lifelong Learning | 1.5 Patient Safety

Additionally, this activity has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the following primary physician board certification requirements. Please confirm with your individual Board.

• American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
• American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM)
• American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

Certificates for other professions

All participants may request a certificate of participation upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Learners are strongly advised to contact their professional licensing board or professional association to confirm this certificate will be accepted as evidence supporting continuing education requirements.

California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)

This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.

California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)

This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)

This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-0227.

Disclosure Information

In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education.

See the attached pdf for a list of disclosures.

  American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American board of Anesthesiology®.
This activity contributes to the patient safety CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, https://www.theaba.org/, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.

The complete list of disclosures and designation statements are linked below.