The advantage of the STR lies in the fact that detoxification
is monitored through a standardized scale that results in administration
of less benzodiazepines for a significantly shorter
duration thereby reducing the cost to the patient as well as to
the hospital. An early road to discharge and recovery could
promote productivity which is particularly relevant for developing
countries. However, the symptom-triggered regimen
requires a vigorous, scale-based periodic monitoring of withdrawal,
requiring trained and committed staff of residents and
nurses. The training of involved personnel in applying withdrawal
severity scales like CIWA-Ar may be carried out by
holding small workshops within the department. Once trained,
the same personnel can carry out assessment as a part of their
clinical work.