Prescribing Chlormethiazole Reducing Regimes in an Emergency Clinic

Summary A series of 26 patients who presented to an emergency clinic complaining of drinking problems were studied during a 1 month period. Despite 10 different doctors assessing and prescribing for these patients, both a clinical assessment of severity of dependence and the dose of medication prescribed correlated highly with an independent rating scale (SADQ). Only five patients, however, completed treatment in the emergency clinic and subsequently attended an outpatient appointment. There were no predictors of outcome.