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Trends in a decade of drug abuse presentation to an inner city ED.
Am J Emerg Med. 2001 Jan; 19(1):37-9.AJ

Abstract

Temporal factors on the periodic presentations has been described for many diseased states (ie, asthma, seizures, coronary attacks). We now report an analysis of factors that could affect the periodic character regarding emergency department (ED) presentation of drugs of abuse. All drugs presentations consistent with the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reporting program from January 1988 through December 1997 were categorized. Data collection was based on daily chart review of ED medical records from Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital (Chicago, IL). Data were computer analyzed using SPSS and Pharmfit programs and analyzed for time, age, disposition, sex, and reasons for presentation and taking the drugs. During the above period, the Rush ED saw 369,770 patients of which 2,561 (0.7%) presented with a drug-related problem. The average age of men was 33. 7 + 0.29 and women 30.5 + 0.37 years. One hundred thirty-nine patients (5.4%) were under 17 years of age whereas only 72 patients (2.8%) were over 55 years of age. Cocaine was the most common drug presentation with a total of 859 visits. Seven hundred sixty-one (29. 7%) presented with an unexpected reaction, 754 (29.4%) experienced an over dosage, 135 (5.3%) had a drug withdrawal, 546 (21.3%) experienced chronic effects, 1,380 (53.9%) were drug dependent, 218 (8.5%) were suicide attempts, and the remaining 2.7% were unknown. There were 1,078 (42.2%) patients who were treated and released, 1, 394 (54.6%) who were admitted into the hospital, 74 (2.9%) left against medical advice whereas 9 patients (0.4%) died. Peak time for presentation was 5:03 PM (P =.00002). Suicide intent presentations were more likely to be women (P <.0001), older (P <.001), and present at a later time that of recreational drug use (acrophase 18:49 versus 16:39; P =.00011). Almost 90% of patients presenting to our urban ED over past 10 years with drug-related problems arrive because of drug abuse or dependency issues. ED staff should be most prepared to deal with these issues in the late afternoon.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Leikin JB
Emergency Services, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. jdelvall@rush.edu
Morris RW
No affiliation info available
Warren M
No affiliation info available
Erickson T
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentAdultChildEmergency Service, HospitalFemaleHumansIllinoisMaleMiddle AgedSubstance-Related DisordersTime FactorsUrban Health

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

11146015

Citation

Leikin, J B., et al. "Trends in a Decade of Drug Abuse Presentation to an Inner City ED." The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, vol. 19, no. 1, 2001, pp. 37-9.
Leikin JB, Morris RW, Warren M, et al. Trends in a decade of drug abuse presentation to an inner city ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2001;19(1):37-9.
Leikin, J. B., Morris, R. W., Warren, M., & Erickson, T. (2001). Trends in a decade of drug abuse presentation to an inner city ED. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 19(1), 37-9.
Leikin JB, et al. Trends in a Decade of Drug Abuse Presentation to an Inner City ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2001;19(1):37-9. PubMed PMID: 11146015.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Trends in a decade of drug abuse presentation to an inner city ED. AU - Leikin,J B, AU - Morris,R W, AU - Warren,M, AU - Erickson,T, PY - 2001/1/9/pubmed PY - 2001/4/3/medline PY - 2001/1/9/entrez SP - 37 EP - 9 JF - The American journal of emergency medicine JO - Am J Emerg Med VL - 19 IS - 1 N2 - Temporal factors on the periodic presentations has been described for many diseased states (ie, asthma, seizures, coronary attacks). We now report an analysis of factors that could affect the periodic character regarding emergency department (ED) presentation of drugs of abuse. All drugs presentations consistent with the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reporting program from January 1988 through December 1997 were categorized. Data collection was based on daily chart review of ED medical records from Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital (Chicago, IL). Data were computer analyzed using SPSS and Pharmfit programs and analyzed for time, age, disposition, sex, and reasons for presentation and taking the drugs. During the above period, the Rush ED saw 369,770 patients of which 2,561 (0.7%) presented with a drug-related problem. The average age of men was 33. 7 + 0.29 and women 30.5 + 0.37 years. One hundred thirty-nine patients (5.4%) were under 17 years of age whereas only 72 patients (2.8%) were over 55 years of age. Cocaine was the most common drug presentation with a total of 859 visits. Seven hundred sixty-one (29. 7%) presented with an unexpected reaction, 754 (29.4%) experienced an over dosage, 135 (5.3%) had a drug withdrawal, 546 (21.3%) experienced chronic effects, 1,380 (53.9%) were drug dependent, 218 (8.5%) were suicide attempts, and the remaining 2.7% were unknown. There were 1,078 (42.2%) patients who were treated and released, 1, 394 (54.6%) who were admitted into the hospital, 74 (2.9%) left against medical advice whereas 9 patients (0.4%) died. Peak time for presentation was 5:03 PM (P =.00002). Suicide intent presentations were more likely to be women (P <.0001), older (P <.001), and present at a later time that of recreational drug use (acrophase 18:49 versus 16:39; P =.00011). Almost 90% of patients presenting to our urban ED over past 10 years with drug-related problems arrive because of drug abuse or dependency issues. ED staff should be most prepared to deal with these issues in the late afternoon. SN - 0735-6757 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/11146015/Trends_in_a_decade_of_drug_abuse_presentation_to_an_inner_city_ED_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -