Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance of alcoholic

This code signifies an encounter focused on providing counseling and ongoing monitoring for a patient with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence. It represents the management and support aspects of their recovery journey, rather than the initial diagnosis or acute treatment of intoxication or withdrawal.

Use this code for follow-up visits where a patient is receiving education, support, or behavioral therapy related to their alcohol use disorder. It is appropriate for encounters involving the assessment of sobriety, relapse prevention strategies, or the monitoring of treatment adherence in individuals with a known history of alcohol abuse.

• Always sequence this code as a secondary diagnosis when a more specific alcohol-related condition (e.g., F10.x) is also being managed.
• Do not use this code for the initial diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence; use the appropriate F10.x code instead.
• Consider using this code in conjunction with Z71.42 (Drug abuse counseling and surveillance of drug abuser) if both alcohol and drug abuse are being addressed.