The adolescent overdose drama

The drama of the adolescent overdose is a daily feature of many hospital casualty or accident and emergency departments. The roles of some of the actors and some of the ploys involved in this drama are discussed. Labelling the adolescent as “overdose” or “drug abuser” does little justice to the complex factors involved in this personal and interpersonal crisis presentation. This is a drama in the growth through adolescence to maturity and separation from the family of origin.