ABSTRACT
DEPENDENCE • A 28-year-old Caucasian man. • He was referred from the Accident and Emergency Department of the
local district general hospital for a psychiatric opinion. • Following cessation of heavy heroin abuse (smoking 1 gram of heroin
per day for the last four weeks) he presented with a 36-hour history of withdrawal effects from opiates in the form of piloerection, shivering, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, dilated pupils, tachycardia, yawning, intense craving for heroin, agitation and restlessness.
