Narcotic withdrawal in the emergency department

Patients in narcotic withdrawal can be very disruptive in an emergency department. An understanding of the dynamics of narcotic addiction and withdrawal is useful for the emergency physician. Narcotics are used for the euphoria they provide; however, chronic use results in physiological and psychological changes. Research into the endorphin system has provided a model of narcotic addiction and withdrawal. Effective therapies now exist for use in the emergency department.