ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 46-year-old man who is brought in to the Emergency Department by police officers, having been found in the street. Police officers report he was lying still and appeared inactive next to several cans of beer and vomitus. Alcohol is the most commonly overused toxin presenting to the Emergency Department. There are several alcohols that are available to the public over the counter: ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol and isopropyl alcohol. Acute ethanol intoxication presents initially with disinhibition, followed by euphoria. Screening tools are useful in assessing patients at risk of alcohol dependency and should be performed on all patients. Patients should undergo blood tests to rule out acute or chronic disturbances including a full blood count, electrolytes, vitamin B12, folate, liver enzymes and amylase. If the patient is at high risk of alcohol withdrawal, stupor or coma, they should be admitted.
