Drug abuse emergencies in Hamburg 1990/91.

During a 30-month investigation of the prevalence and structure of drug emergencies in Hamburg, data from all ambulances were analysed. From January 1991 to June 1992 there were 1565 drug-related emergency patients suffering a life-threatening event in Hamburg (1097 male, 350 female, 118 without information concerning the sex) to whom medical care was given by an emergency team. The number of cases grew strongly from 538 in 1990 to 720 in 1991. The place where the patients were found was very often in the region around the main railway station and near to the Reeperbahn, but we could also observe a scene south of the river Elbe.