Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
Of non-marijuana drug users in the ER, nearly all are problem drug users
Date:
July 7, 2014
Source:
American College of Emergency Physicians
Summary:
Of
emergency patients who reported any drug other than marijuana as their
primary drug of use, 90.7 percent met the criteria for problematic drug
use. Among patients who reported cannabis (marijuana) as their primary
drug, almost half met the criteria for having a drug problem, according
to a study.
Of
emergency patients who reported any drug other than marijuana as their
primary drug of use, 90.7 percent met the criteria for problematic drug
use. Among patients who reported cannabis (marijuana) as their primary
drug, almost half (46.6 percent) met the criteria for having a drug
problem, according to a study published online in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
"Of
patients who reported any drug use in the previous 30 days, nearly
two-thirds were identified as problem drug users," said lead study
author Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, MD, MPH, or the Department of
Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass.
"These patients also tended to require many more medical resources in
the emergency department. Identifying which patients have problematic
drug use is an important first step for emergency providers who are in a
unique position to intervene and mitigate the effects of drug abuse."
Researchers screened patients using the Tobacco, Alcohol, Drug Questionnaire. Of 3,240 patients who reported drug use in the previous month, 64.3 percent met the criteria for problematic drug use. Non-cannabis drug users identified as problem drug users were more likely to be 30 or older and have a resource-intense ER triage level. Cannabis users identified as problem drug users were more likely to be younger than 30. Both cannabis and non-cannabis users identified as problem drug users were more likely to smoke, drink daily or binge drink alcohol and use drugs daily.
Nearly all the patients (91 percent) who believed their emergency department visit was related to drug use met the criteria for problematic drug use.
"Emergency patients with unmet substance abuse treatment needs incur higher health care costs than their counterparts," said Dr. Macias-Konstantopoulos. "Patients with drug problems who visit the ER may present 'teachable moments'. An emergency department-based effort to connect problematic drug users with treatment could ultimately decrease overall health care costs."
Researchers screened patients using the Tobacco, Alcohol, Drug Questionnaire. Of 3,240 patients who reported drug use in the previous month, 64.3 percent met the criteria for problematic drug use. Non-cannabis drug users identified as problem drug users were more likely to be 30 or older and have a resource-intense ER triage level. Cannabis users identified as problem drug users were more likely to be younger than 30. Both cannabis and non-cannabis users identified as problem drug users were more likely to smoke, drink daily or binge drink alcohol and use drugs daily.
Nearly all the patients (91 percent) who believed their emergency department visit was related to drug use met the criteria for problematic drug use.
"Emergency patients with unmet substance abuse treatment needs incur higher health care costs than their counterparts," said Dr. Macias-Konstantopoulos. "Patients with drug problems who visit the ER may present 'teachable moments'. An emergency department-based effort to connect problematic drug users with treatment could ultimately decrease overall health care costs."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by American College of Emergency Physicians. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
The above story is based on materials provided by American College of Emergency Physicians. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
- Wendy L. Macias Konstantopoulos, Jessica A. Dreifuss, Katherine A. McDermott, Blair Alden Parry, Melissa L. Howell, Raul N. Mandler, Garrett M. Fitzmaurice, Michael P. Bogenschutz, Roger D. Weiss. Identifying Patients With Problematic Drug Use in the Emergency Department: Results of a Multisite Study. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.05.012
Cite This Page:
More Health & Medicine News
Monday, July 7, 2014
Featured Research
from universities, journals, and other organizations
Dodging Dots Helps Explain Brain Circuitry
July 7, 2014 —
Neuroscientists looked cell by cell at the brain circuitry that
tadpoles, and possibly other animals, use to avoid collisions. The study
produced a model of how individual inhibitory and excitatory ... full story
- Dodging Dots Helps Explain Brain Circuitry
- Moral Beliefs a Barrier to HPV Vaccine
- Infant Toenails Reveal in Utero Arsenic Exposure
- Sitting, Not Just Lack of Exercise, Is an Issue
- Obesity, Large Waist Size Risk Factors for COPD
- Less Exercise To Blame for Expanding Waistlines
- Alzheimer's: More Reliable Criteria, Diagnosis
- Sleep Deprivation: Schizophrenia Symptoms
- Cheap TB Test: Quicker, More Reliable Diagnosis
- Important Piece in Brain Tumor Puzzle Found
newer top stories | older top stories
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered