The British Journal of Psychiatry 131: 273-280 (1977)
© 1977 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Drug dependent individuals dealt with by London casualty departments
AH Ghodse
During a study of drug incidents dealt with in one month by 62 casualty
departments in Greater London, 395 drug-dependent individuals were
identified. The great majority of these patients were seen in hospital
following an overdose, and barbiturates were the drugs used most
frequently. A high incidence of multi-drug use was noted, and many
individuals had obtained their drugs from an illicit source. A history of
repeated overdosing was common, and one fifth of the patients behaved
aggressively while they were in casualty. The implications of these
findings are discussed, with particular reference to the demands that are
made on casualty departments by drug-dependent individuals.