The Link Between Anxiety and Alcohol Use: Implications for Treatment and Early Intervention

In this course, Dr. Lexine Stapinski (University of New South Wales) discusses the link between anxiety and alcohol use, and why it is important for counsellors to understand the connection. Given the global burden of disease carried by alcohol addiction, Dr. Stapinski shows why it is crucial to break the vicious cycle involving the two conditions. She cites research to show that separate treatments have not worked as well with the dual conditions as an integrated treatment based on a combination of motivational interviewing and CBT. Dr. Stapinski also discusses recent and current research into programs which intervene early on to prevent the escalation of anxiety and alcohol use problems.