The patient with intentional drug or alcohol intoxication in the emergency room

The intoxicated patient is a frequent situation in the emergency department (ED). Assessment and monitoring of somatic risk must be a priority, especially if there is any doubt about the treatments ingested. The risk of suicide, assessed on the patient's arrival, can lead to increased monitoring. Because of the strong interaction between serious psychiatric pathologies and drug intoxication, a psychiatric assessment should be systematically carried out. This is done at a distance from the intoxication, when the patient's condition allows it. In the case of alcohol intoxication associated with psychiatric symptoms or complaints, the assessment should be carried out after a period of sobering up, defined between the ED and psychiatry teams.