The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is available as an open-access article. In June 2017, the American Society of Addiction Medicine's (ASAM) Quality Improvement Council (QIC) elected to update ASAM's clinical guidelines on alcohol withdrawal management based on several factors. First, ASAM conducted an Educational Needs Assessment in 2016 that showed a strong interest and need for education on withdrawal management. Second, updated QIC policies recommend that all ASAM guidelines should be updated every five years. ASAM's previous guidelines on the topic of alcohol withdrawal management were published in 1997 and 2004. The first guideline, "Pharmacological Management of Alcohol Withdrawal," was published in JAMA, followed five years later with the most recent guideline entitled "Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium" in JAMA Internal Medicine, formerly Archives of Internal Medicine. Subsequent guidelines have not been written since the 2004 guidelines thus, an update was due. Third, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released a practice guideline in 2018 on the appropriate use of medications in the treatment of alcohol use disorder that is not inclusive of alcohol withdrawal management. An ASAM guideline on alcohol withdrawal should complement APA's guideline to provide clinicians with guidance on treatment and management approaches across a continuum of care. Fourth, outreach to other organizations indicated that other organizations are not planning on creating a guideline on alcohol withdrawal management. The updated clinical guideline is intended to address current practice concerns and provide clear guidance that will lead to more consistent treatment practices in the field. This course on clinical management of alcohol withdrawal is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced-level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with clinical management of alcohol withdrawal. The course material includes a literature review of interventions and research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer-reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: ASAM Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the clinical management of alcohol withdrawal. Specifically, a professional will: Identify and diagnose alcohol withdrawal. Recognize risk factors for severe or complicated withdrawal. Determine the appropriate level of care for alcohol withdrawal. Describe strategies for managing alcohol withdrawal Citation: The American Society of Addiction Management. (2020). The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management. https://www.asam.org/quality-care/clinical-guidelines/alcohol-withdrawal-management-guideline