[Acute ethanol and drug poisoning in alcohol abusers]

In the period from 1997 to 1999 one hundred twenty one alcohol abusers were admitted to the clinic with acute ethanol and drug poisoning, including 95 men and 26 women from 18 to 69 (mean 36) years old. Fifty eight persons were poisoned by ethanol, in remaining 63 cases intoxications were mixed e.g. including benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, carbamazepine, amphetamine, phenothiazines, barbiturates, theophylline, salicylates. In the mixed poisonings group two men (3.2%) died at the age above 50 years old suffering from congestive heart failure, bronchopneumonia and ventricular fibrillation. In the ethanol intoxication group there was no fatal case.