When Agitation Meets Intoxication: A Retrospective Comparison of Intramuscular Olanzapine and Haloperidol Among Patients With and Without Substance Use in a Psychiatric Emergency Service

Patients with active substance use exhibited similar or greater responses to standard IM treatment for agitation without increased safety concerns. Findings support potential safety and efficacy of common pharmacologic approaches in this high-risk population, though a modest single-site cohort may limit generalizability. There is a need for prospective, multisite replication.