Alcohol and other drug use
Assess acute illness without attributing every finding to alcohol or drug use.
Clinical learning outcomes: Awaiting named clinical review.
What you should learn
- Recognise intoxication, withdrawal and other possible illness or injury.
- Discuss immediate safety, support and referral without judgement.
Recognise and explain
- Consider coexisting mental-health concerns, nutrition and safeguarding.
On your placement
Agree the activity and supervision with the clinical team. For patient-facing learning, seek permission and respect the patient’s comfort and care needs.
- Take a respectful substance and medication history.
- Review observations, glucose and the possibility of injury with a clinician.
- Discuss withdrawal monitoring and local alcohol or drug-service support.
The poisoning lesson concerns acute physical and psychosocial risk; it does not cover the full care of dependence.
Start here
MLA: substance history and urgent illness
Take a matter-of-fact substance history and discuss urgent illness, withdrawal and support.
Current guidance
NICE CG100: alcohol-related physical complications
Read about acute withdrawal and its complications, then discuss the department’s assessment, monitoring and support arrangements.
National Poisons Information Service
Ask your supervisor to show you authorised TOXBASE access and when to seek specialist poisons advice for an exposure.
NICE: when self-harm is involved
If self-harm is involved, read the recommendations on physical care, psychosocial assessment and safe follow-up.
Discuss
Initial assessment of suspected poisoning
Approach an uncertain ingestion with supportive care, targeted information and physical and psychosocial safety in parallel.
On your next shift
Name one alternative diagnosis considered before attributing symptoms to intoxication.
How this relates to GMC graduate outcomes and the MLA
These are St Emlyn’s learning connections, not a claim that this page covers every national requirement.
Presentations and conditions: Alcohol use; Drug use; Poisoning.
Clinical and professional capabilities: Assessment and clinical reasoning; Recognising limits and seeking help.
St Emlyn’s interpretation of relevant GMC graduate outcomes and MLA themes; these are summary labels, not official topic codes or a complete curriculum.
Explore the student placement programme
Student practice and graduate expectations
About this resource and its review
A St Emlyn’s guide to learning Emergency Medicine during undergraduate placements. It is not an official medical-school or GMC curriculum. Your medical school’s curriculum and assessment requirements take precedence.
National foundations: GMC Outcomes for Graduates, the practical-skills supplement and the MLA content map applying from September 2026.
Framework checked: 8 October 2026. This is a source check, not clinical sign-off.
Clinical learning outcomes: awaiting named clinical review.
The four learning routes are St Emlyn’s groupings. The six interconnected MLA domains remain part of the official content map.