Alcohol and drug addiction: An emergency department perspective

Addiction affects all aspects of a person’s life, and addiction also impacts upon all aspects of health care. The emergency department (ED) is a frequent provider of services to those addicted to alcohol or drugs. The central role of the ED as the last common pathway in acute crisis management in healthcare means that all staff working in health services or in addiction care should be aware of what the ED can provide acutely. It is also important to understand which specialist services the ED needs to be able to access in order to provide a safe and high quality service to addicts in their care. These aspects, among others, will be covered in this review.