Attendance for drug misuse to Dublin accident and emergency departments.

This study analyses attendees at 13 accident and emergency departments for September 1985. During the study period, 73 drug misusers were identified by staff at A&E departments, of whom 60.3% were male and 39.7% female. The average age was 26 years. The majority of cases (both male and female) the reason for attendance was overdose, which was intentional for 86% of females. Over half (58.9%) admitted to injecting heroin and 40.5% were admitted to hospital, the remainder were discharged after treatment and 22% were referred to the Drug Treatment Centre Board.