Alcoholism, or alcohol use disorder, is defined, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, as a problematic pattern of alcohol use that leads to clinically significant impairment or psychological distress. Alcoholism causes approximately 2.5 million deaths worldwide each year, accounting for 4% of all mortality. Alcohol consumption is the third leading global risk factor for disease and disability; in middle-income countries it is the greatest risk. Harmful alcohol use poses a particularly serious threat to men. It is the leading risk factor for death in males aged 15 to 59, mainly due to injury, cardiovascular disease and violence. Globally, 6.2% of all male deaths are attributable to alcohol, compared to 1.1% of female deaths. Lower socioeconomic status and education levels pose a higher risk of alcohol-related deaths, illnesses and injuries. Global consumption in 2005 amounted to 6,133 liters of pure alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years and older. Alcohol consumption also affects society in general. Death, illness and injury caused by alcohol consumption have socioeconomic impacts, including medical costs borne by governments, as well as financial and psychological burdens on families. Harmful alcohol consumption also affects worker productivity. The major social impact linked to alcohol consumption is crime and violence. The World Health Organization has launched the Global School Based Student Health Survey. The WHO global survey on alcohol and health assessed the five-year trend in underage alcohol consumption: of 73 countries that responded, 71% indicated an increase. Five-year trends in alcohol consumption among young people aged 18 to 25 indicated that, out of 82 countries surveyed, 80% showed an increase. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Alcohol is causally related to more than 60 different medical conditions. Globally it is responsible for as many deaths and disabilities as tobacco and hypertension. Evidence suggests that treatment of alcohol-related problems should be incorporated into the public health response. An important intervention for many alcoholic patients is the management of alcohol withdrawal to relieve distress, prevent medical complications, and prepare the patient for rehabilitation. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms (AWS) are a common reason for hospitalization. However, a significant number of these patients have coexisting liver disease or other medical problems. More than 50% of patients with AUD experience AWS after stopping or sharply decreasing alcohol consumption. Patients who have developed a biological dependence on alcohol are at risk of developing AWS which is defined as the presence of two or more of the following symptoms after cessation of alcohol consumption: tachycardia; tremor; insomnia; nausea or vomiting; transient, visual symptoms, tactile or auditory hallucinations; psychomotor agitation; anxiety and tonic-clonic seizures; hyperpyrexia; hypertension; diaphoresis. Diagnostic criteria for AWD include disturbances of consciousness, changes in cognitive abilities, or perpetual disorders that develop in a short period after stopping excessive alcohol consumption. -48 hours after the last drink. Historically the mortality from DT (delirious tremors) was around 40%, today with early recognition and timely treatment it has dropped to 1-5%. A reliable, short, simple and clinically useful scale for assessing the severity of alcohol withdrawal, for monitoring.