Certificate Course in Alcohol Use Disorders
Centre for Addiction Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS
June 2026 - August 2026
24 hrs live + 12 hrs self-paced
Starting June 3rd, 2026
Active Clinical Practice
NIMHANS Accredited
Addressing the Treatment Gap
Alcohol Use Disorder: A Public Health Crisis
Alcohol use disorder is a significant public health problem in India. Nearly 15% of the population aged between 10 and 75 years consume alcohol. Converting these to absolute numbers, about 16 crore persons consume alcohol in India.
Among the 16 crore alcohol users, about 5.7 crore individuals were found to be problem users (experiencing problems with the use of substances), and about 2.9 crore individuals were identified as dependent users.
The stark reality: Only one in thirty-eight individuals with alcohol dependence ever receives treatment. The National Mental Health Survey of India found the treatment gap to be 86.3% for alcohol use disorders.
Focus on Odisha: In Odisha, around 30% of adult men and 4.3% of women consume alcohol (NFHS-5, 2019–21), with higher rates in rural and tribal populations. Among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like the Bonda and Juang, alcohol use prevalence exceeds 60%, often beginning in adolescence. Over 2.1 million people in Odisha require medical or psychiatric intervention for alcohol use disorders.
NIMHANS ECHO: Democratizing Knowledge
The Hub and Spoke Model
NIMHANS ECHO is an innovative capacity-building program that uses a HUB and SPOKE knowledge-sharing network. The "Hub" at NIMHANS academic centre of expertise connects with healthcare providers (spokes) working in remote and rural areas of India.
Each NIMHANS tele-ECHO session consists of spoke-led presentations of anonymized patient cases and discussion of the cases whereby the peers as well as hub experts provide advice on the diagnosis and management. This is followed by a brief didactic on a mental health-related topic.
Using smartphone apps and multipoint videoconferencing, healthcare professionals access live virtual sessions on a weekly basis, learning through case-based learning, best practices, and web-based monitoring for outcomes.
Course Objectives
Understand the Factors
Differentiate the various factors leading to Alcohol Use Disorders by integrating hereditary, neurobiological, and psycho-social factors for a holistic approach.
Screening & Assessment
Implement effective screening and assessment techniques for Alcohol Use Disorder in clinical practice using validated tools.
Evidence-Based Treatment
Increase the ability to decide on safe and appropriate pharmacological agents and psychosocial interventions based on evidence-based practices for AUD.
Know When to Refer
Develop the ability to determine when it is necessary to refer a patient to a specialist for further treatment.
Learning Modules
Comprehensive 12-week program focused on case-based learning for Alcohol Use Disorders
Assessment & Engagement
- Explain the multi-factorial causes of AUD (biological, psychological, social)
- Recognize signs and symptoms of alcohol-related problems
- Understand how psychological and physical health comorbidities interact with alcohol use
- Initiate non-judgmental, empathetic conversations with patients regarding alcohol use
Topics: Engagement and compassion, Case intake, Initiating conversation, Neurobiology of AUD
Diagnosis & Withdrawal Management
- Accurately diagnose AUD using standardized classification systems (DSM-5, ICD-11)
- Utilize validated tools like AUDIT to screen for alcohol use patterns
- Differentiate between simple and complex alcohol withdrawal and apply appropriate treatment protocols
- Identify and initiate safe and effective pharmacological treatments for AUD
Topics: DSM-5/ICD-11 diagnosis, AUDIT screening, Simple AWS, Complex AWS (Seizures & DT)
Long-term Management
- Implement patient-centered pharmacological strategies for long-term management of AUD
- Apply brief intervention and motivational interviewing skills in clinical settings
- Recognize early signs of relapse and provide evidence-based relapse prevention strategies
- Decide when to refer patients to specialized care based on clinical indicators
Topics: Anti-craving medications, Brief intervention, Motivational interviewing, Relapse prevention
12-Week Learning Journey
Every Wednesday from 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM IST
June 3rd
Nuts and Bolts, Program Objectives
June 10th
Dr. Abhishek M
June 17th
Dr. Dipthadi
June 24th
Dr. Rahul
July 1st
Dr. Shivam
July 8th
Dr. Sreya
July 15th
Dr. Babli
July 22nd
Dr. Aishwariya
July 29th
Dr. Nandhini
Aug 5th
Dr. Tathagata
Aug 12th
Ms. Tejdeepika
Aug 19th
Ms. Aswathy
Core Competencies
What CCAUD-Certified Champions Can Do
- Effectively assess patients for Alcohol Use Disorders
- For Doctors: Detoxify a person with Alcohol Use Disorders
- For Doctors: Provide anti-craving medications for Alcohol Use Disorders
- Use brief intervention and components of Motivational Interviewing
- Implement relapse prevention strategies
When to Refer to Specialists
- Cannot start specific treatment for Opioid, Cocaine, Cannabis, Nicotine, or Stimulant use disorders
- Cannot manage patients with addiction and severe mental disorders like psychosis or similar comorbidities
- Cannot identify as an Addiction Psychiatrist or Psychiatrist
Accreditation Criteria
All requirements must be fulfilled to receive the certificate
- Attendance: More than 75% attendance (9 out of 12 live sessions) with video presence (>60 minutes per session)
- Case Presentation: One Alcohol Use Disorder case presentation during a weekly live tele-ECHO session
- Assignments: Completion of three e-Assignments - Two live on Zoom (Saturdays), one on iECHO/Jotform platform
- Patient Reports: Monthly reports of patients seen/asked/evaluated (during the course and six months after)
- Assessments: Completion of pre-test and post-test (no scoring involved)
Note: Certificate is a by-product of this programme. The core philosophy is democratizing knowledge by case-based learning. There is NO participation certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Join ECHO Programme
RIGHT KNOWLEDGE || RIGHT PLACE || RIGHT CARE
What You'll Gain
Clinical Expertise
Ready to work with patients with Alcohol Use Disorder-related issues confidently
Patient-Centric Care
Focus on patient-centric care and increase knowledge about evidence-based practice in Alcohol Addiction
Expert Network
Part of the Addiction Experts Network connected through Addiction-champions app
Certification
Certificate of Accreditation upon successful completion from NIMHANS Digital Academy
Recognition Status
This is a "Continued Professional Development" Course recognized by NIMHANS Digital Academy Board of Studies. This programme is not recognized by NMC/MCI/RCI or similar bodies.
Course Coordinator: te***************@*****ns.net and team from Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS