The ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management

Course overview

Course Description: This course provides a comprehensive examination of the ASAM Clinical Practice Guideline on Alcohol Withdrawal Management. Participants will explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol withdrawal, evidence-based approaches to risk stratification, and the application of validated assessment tools such as the CIWA-Ar, PAWSS, and LARS. The course addresses the full continuum of alcohol withdrawal severity from mild ambulatory presentations to life-threatening delirium and resistant withdrawal and covers pharmacotherapy protocols including benzodiazepine dosing strategies, anticonvulsant use, and phenobarbital management. Special populations covered include pregnant patients, hospitalized patients, and those with co-occurring opioid use disorder. Integration of supportive care, nutritional supplementation, monitoring strategies, and initiation of alcohol use disorder treatment within the withdrawal management episode is also addressed. This course on alcohol withdrawal management is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of alcohol withdrawal management. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. Authors: American Society of Addiction Medicine Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with detailed information about the clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management. Specifically, the practitioner will: 1. Describe the pathophysiology and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for alcohol withdrawal syndrome, including the neurobiological mechanisms that produce withdrawal signs and symptoms. 2. Identify risk factors associated with severe or complicated alcohol withdrawal, including seizure and delirium, and apply validated screening and risk assessment tools in clinical practice. 3. Determine the appropriate level of care for patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal using The ASAM Criteria framework and evidence-based placement considerations. 4. Apply evidence-based pharmacotherapy protocols for alcohol withdrawal management, including benzodiazepine dosing regimens and appropriate use of alternative and adjunct medications. 5. Manage complicated alcohol withdrawal presentations, including seizure, delirium, alcohol-induced psychotic disorder, and resistant alcohol withdrawal, across inpatient and ambulatory settings. 6. Integrate supportive care, monitoring strategies, and alcohol use disorder treatment initiation into a comprehensive alcohol withdrawal management plan across diverse patient populations and settings. Citation: American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2020). The ASAM clinical practice guideline on alcohol withdrawal management. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 14(3S), 1-72. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000668