[Psychotropic substances in the area of preclinical intensive care medicine].

The aim of preclinical intensive care is to prevent severe consequences by providing immediate therapeutic aid to emergency patients in a life-threatening condition. We investigated how the abuse of drugs and alcohol influences the frequency and the category of emergency cases as well as the patient outcome. 250 emergency cases were analysed in a prospective study in the area of Heidelberg, Germany, from the summer of 1995 to the spring of 1999. The analysis is based on patient data obtained from the German standardised Emergency Record and on the clinical outcome and influence of drugs and alcohol. A serious level of drugs or alcohol was detected in 17% of the patients (the average level of alcohol was 1.97 promille). 81% of these intoxicated patients were given a NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) score of less than 4 (not life-threatening) and therefore were not in need of the a presence of a physician.