ABSTRACT
Substance use (including alcohol and licit and illicit drugs) in detention settings may have consequences predominantly as a result of intoxication or withdrawal. The degree and nature of substance use varies from country to country and from region to region. For forensic physicians and allied forensic practitioners encountering those who may be suffering from the effects of substances, it is important that they understand how such issues may be managed in the short-term. This Chapter addresses the management of substance misuse in short-term police custody by using England & Wales as the predominant example. The broad principles apply in any setting including, for example, Sexual Assault Referral Centers and immigration centers where such issues may also present.
