Pathology

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is characterized as a condition where psychological withdrawal symptoms last for a duration ranging from a few months to years. PAWS is often called post-withdrawal syndrome as it is a phase after initial acute withdrawal symptoms for a drug. Prolonged use of a drug like alcohol, benzodiazepine, and opioids changes the physiology of the central nervous system which then affects the normal behavioral pattern of a person even after the acute withdrawal symptoms phase. When an addictive drug is taken regularly or substance abuse is there, the brain adjusts its physiology by influencing the activities of neurotransmitters. And when there is a deficiency of that drug, the drug influenced level of neurotransmitters results in excitability and the symptoms are summed up as withdrawal symptoms for that drug. In case these withdrawal symptoms persist over a certain duration, the person is said to be suffering from PAWS.