Alcohol-related problems in the emergency room of an Indian general hospital.

Alcohol-related problems made up 17.6% of the case load of psychiatric emergencies in an Indian general hospital. The police brought three-quarters of them, 45% for quarrels, street-fights and under influence of alcohol and 20% for minor offences like abusing in public. A psychiatric illness was definitely present in 40% of the cases. Only 10% of the patients with alcohol-related problems were referred for outpatient treatment. Eighty-five percent were not given any follow-up advice because the patients said they needed no help.