Advocacy and Policy: Improving Access to Treatment and Recovery Support Services

Alcohol use is one of the leading contributors to global burden of disease ( https://www.who.int/news/item/21-09-2018-harmful-use-of-alcohol-kills-more-than-3-million-people-each-year%2D%2Dmost-of-them-men ), yet only a small percentage of the population has access to psychoeducation and treatment for alcohol use disorder ( https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-treatment-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics ). Alcohol use-related policies and health advocacy efforts have played an important role in bridging this gap, but there remains a great need for effective prevention, detection, and treatment of alcohol use disorders. This chapter outlines a history of alcohol use in the United States, governmental policies regulating its distribution and consumption, advocacy work aimed at helping those with alcoholism, and healthcare systems in place to treat alcohol use disorder. Finally, it explores future directions to further address the rising rates of disordered alcohol use and its detrimental outcomes.