Drug overdoses: a comparison of drug-dependent and nondependent individuals attending London casualty departments.

During a 1-month prospective study of patients presenting to 62 London Casualty Departments with drug-related problems, 395 drug-dependent individuals were identified. A comparison of these drug-dependent and nondependent patients attending casualty during the same period with the same presenting problem of drug overdose showed statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics and patterns of drug use between the two groups. The importance of identifying previously unrecognized drug-dependent individuals during their casualty attendance is discussed.