Clinical and epidemiological features of intravenous drug addicts (IVDA), who attended the emergency department between 1984 and 1988, were studied. The number of cases treated over these 4 years had increased three-fold (256 vs 724). The median age had increased by 3 years (p less than 0.01). The sex ratio had not changed. A third of the cases knew that they were HIV-seropositive in 1988. The main reason for consultation in 1984 was overdosage and in 1988 it was fever. The rate of admission was similar in both years (around 21%). There was a significant increase in admissions caused by respiratory diseases in 1988 (p less than 0.0001) and a significant decrease of admissions caused by overdosage (p less than 0.001).