Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale Questionnaire

**Semantic type:** Intellectual Product

**Definition:** A standardized rating scale developed by Wesson and Ling in 2003 to evaluate the severity of an individual's opiate withdrawal symptoms. This instrument consists of 11 signs or symptoms which are assessed and rated by a clinician. The severity of each sign or symptom correlates with a numerical value. A total score of 5-12 is 'mild'; 13-24 is 'moderate'; 25-36 is 'moderately severe'; and greater than 36 is 'severe withdrawal.'

**Synonyms:** - COWS - COWS - COWS1