Assessment and Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal

Saturday, April 26, 2025

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Presenter(s)

Stephen Holt, MD, MS, FACP, FASAM

Associate Professor of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut
TS

Tessa Steel, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, physician-scientist, and Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine doctor
Harborview Medical Center
Seattle, Washington

About 50% of patients who excessively consume alcohol develop symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) after abrupt cessation or reduction in use. If left untreated, AWS can have severe and even lethal outcomes. Gaps in knowledge of the neurobiology of AWS and treatment protocols can negatively impact patient outcomes. This session aims to build skills and knowledge to reduce those gaps and improve patient care by providing strategies to assess for and manage AWS in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Identify fundamental aspects of alcohol use, including standard drink sizes and impact on Blood Alcohol Level (BAL).
Recognize the clinical signs, symptoms, and risk factors for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome.
Create a comprehensive treatment plan and patient-centered goals for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Disclosure(s):

Stephen Holt, MD, MS, FACP, FASAM: No financial relationships to disclose