PREHOSPITAL OPIATE EMERGENCIES IN VIENNA

To establish baseline data on prehospital emergencies caused by opiate s during a 4-month period, a retrospective analysis of run records of the Emergency Medical System in Vienna, the capital of Austria, was co nducted. During the study period, there were 308 opioid emergencies in volving 240 persons, an average of 2.5 overdoses per day, Severely com promised patients were treated in 67.8% of the 308 emergencies, and 79 .3% of emergencies were transported to hospital; 52.5% of the involved persons were younger than 22 years of age. Sex distribution and perio dicity and frequency of emergencies differed among age groups. A subgr oup of individuals involved repeatedly in emergencies was identified, partly showing temporal clustering of fatal and nonfatal overdoses. Pe rsons involved in opiate emergencies belong to heterogenous sub-groups . At a local level, research should be initiated to clarify the patter n and impact of these emergencies on overall drug abuse prevention. Co pyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company.