Alcohol Withdrawal Management

Incorporate universal screening for unhealthy alcohol use into medical settings using a validated scale to help identify patients with or at risk for alcohol use disorder and alcohol withdrawal.

Level of care determination should be based on a patient's current signs and symptoms, level of risk for developing severe or complicated withdrawal or complications of withdrawal, and other dimensions such as recovery capital and environment. Alcohol withdrawal can typically be safely managed in an ambulatory setting for those patients with limited or mitigated risk factors. Patients with low levels of psychosocial support or an unsafe environment may benefit from a more intensive level of care than is otherwise indicated.