alcohol withdrawl?

Hi,
Has anyone had experience/knowledge of a pt experiencing alcohol withdrawl. I just dropped off a family member at the hospital today, he will be admitted for alcohol withdrawl. The doctor told me that the mortality rate was 20% from withdrawing from it. Also she told me that according to the pt age, heart,lungs, etc, that the number could be even higher. He went through this 2 months ago, and he was heavily sedated for a week but went right back to drinking. Please help me, I am afraid.
katie