Alcohol Use Disorder in Shift / night workers

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established AUD-specific
Is it more common among shift / night workers? Evidence links shiftwork with alcohol consumption, but findings heterogeneous
Are shift / night workers at higher risk? Somewhat / Yes
How much higher is the risk? Systematic review supports association but insufficient consistent AUD effect
How often can it be missed? High
Does it show up differently among shift / night workers? Yes
How might it look different? Alcohol may be used to “switch off” or initiate sleep after shifts; circadian disruption complicates sleep
What commonly occurs alongside it? Sleep disorders; depression/anxiety
What can it be confused with? Sleep-related drinking vs AUD; shift-work sleep disorder
Common screening tool AUDIT
Separate screening tool for shift / night workers None
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