Pharmacologic Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Intensive Care Units

Alcohol is one of the most frequently abused drugs in American society. In 2014, there were 17 million people aged 12 years or older (6.4% of the population) who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD).¹  According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), risky alcohol use can place people at increased risk of health consequences.² Risky alcohol consumption is defined as alcohol intake of 14 drinks per week or more than 4 drinks per day for men younger than 65 years and 7 drinks per week or greater than 3 drinks per day for women younger than 65 years.²  Risky alcohol use usually is not severe enough to constitute AUD, but people who have risky alcohol use may develop AUD. Alcohol use disorder may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the number of diagnostic criteria present (mild, 2–3 symptoms; moderate, 4–5...