drunks

i'm curious how others handle the drunks that come into your ER's.

i used to have sympathy for them and do what i could for them but the longer i am in the ER, the less patience i have for them.

figured maybe i could learn a trick or two to keep my sanity when dealing with them.

I work in a drug an alcohol detox facility that also has protective custody. Most of the "drunks" end up at our place. The staff here always treats each person with respect. Some have been here hundreds of times. However, I have also seen a 70 year old chronic alcoholic finally 'get it' and remain sober and come in to speak to those in our facility. Yes, we get frustrated, we get verbally abused, but each of these persons have the potential to turn their life around so we view each time they come in as another possibility for them finally having the desire to change and ask for help. :)