Ng C, Fleury M, Hakmi H, et al. - In acute trauma patients, researchers undertook a retrospective study to determine how alcohol use and alcohol withdrawal can impact hospital outcomes. Three groups of patients were defined: blood alcohol level (BAL) ≤ 10 mg/dL, BAL > 10 mg/dL, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). Across all three groups, injury severity and mortality were found to be similar, however, significantly longer hospital and ICU lengths of stay, unplanned ICU admission, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and higher rates of complications were noted in AWS patients. Patients with AWS also had high rates of acute neuropsychiatric symptoms. Overall, worse outcomes, except for mortality, were observed in AWS patients. The requirement for early evaluation for alcohol withdrawal risk factors as well as for input from specialists is emphasized by the complex nature of alcohol withdrawal cases, including the likelihood of having AWS despite a negative BAL on admission.