A multicenter comparative effectiveness study published in JAMA Internal Medicine evaluated whether initiating phenobarbital, compared with diazepam, was associated with shorter hospital stays or differences in invasive mechanical ventilation among patients hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Study design Participants: 24,643 adult inpatients across 754 United States hospitals Data source: Premier Healthcare Database Study period: October 2022 to August 2024 Eligibility: Primary diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal syndrome present on admission, with treatment initiated on the admission day Treatment groups: Phenobarbital, 11,919 patients (48.4%); diazepam, 12,724 patients (51.6%) Median age: 45 years (interquartile range, 35–56); 75.1% were male Primary outcomes: Hospital length of stay and invasive mechanical ventilation use Statistical method: Targeted maximum likelihood…