The medical management in police custody of alcohol dependent detained persons.

The author devised a simple postal questionnaire which was sent to all of the UK members of the Association of Police Surgeons, requesting information about their management in police custody of alcohol dependent persons detained by the police. The questionnaire and the results are presented. The results are analysed. The detention by the police of alcohol dependent patients is dangerous as these patients are at risk of sudden death. Some of the relevant literature is considered and then a suggested management scheme for such a situation is proposed.