Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome 

Whether mildly unpleasant or seriously uncomfortable, withdrawal symptoms come with the territory when you're in early recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction. In fact, post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) that persist or pop up during the first months of recovery can become a risk factor for relapse.

We asked clinicians at the Hazelden Betty Ford addiction treatment centers to discuss PAWS: the cause, warning signs, duration and coping strategies. Here's what you need to know about the process of drug and alcohol withdrawal, including acute withdrawal symptoms and post-acute syndrome.

Learn more about post-acute withdrawal syndrome.