RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 First-line medications for alcohol use disorders among public drug plan beneficiaries in Ontario JF Canadian Family Physician JO Can Fam Physician FD The College of Family Physicians of Canada SP e277 OP e283 VO 63 IS 5 A1 Sheryl Spithoff A1 Suzanne Turner A1 Tara Gomes A1 Diana Martins A1 Samantha Singh YR 2017 UL http://www.cfp.ca/content/63/5/e277.abstract AB Objective To examine use of first-line alcohol use disorder (AUD) medications (naltrexone and acamprosate) among public drug plan beneficiaries in the year following an AUD diagnosis.Design Retrospective population-based cohort study.Setting Ontario.Participants Individuals eligible for public drug plan benefits who had an AUD diagnosis at a hospital visit between April 1, 2011, and March 31, 2012.Main outcome measures Number of AUD medications dispensed to public drug plan beneficiaries who had a recent hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis, and number of prescriptions dispensed per person.Results A total of 10 394 Ontarians between 18 and 65 years of age were identified who had a hospital visit with an AUD diagnosis and were eligible for public drug plan benefits. The rate of AUD medications dispensed in the subsequent year was 3.56 per 1000 population (95% CI 2.51 to 4.91; n = 37). This rate did not differ significantly by sex (P = .83).Conclusion Very few public drug plan beneficiaries are dispensed first-line AUD medications in the year following an AUD diagnosis.