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Hospitals across South Africa are inundated with patients suffering from conditions associated with substance abuse. It is inevitable that contact with health services be made through an emergency centre at some point. This study aims to assess the exposure and attitudes of emergency physicians to substance abuse and addiction in major South African academic emergency centres.

A prospective survey based on the Substance Abuse Attitude Survey was conducted in a convenience sample of 85 emergency physician registrars and junior consultants in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Respondents were targeted during academic meetings and by post. The survey consisted of a brief demographic questionnaire and tested agreement of 50 statements using a Likert scale. Five pre-defined attitude subgroups were evaluated: permissiveness, non-stereotypes, treatment …