ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Prevalence and healthcare burden of illegal drug use among emergency department patients

S Binks¹, R Hoskins¹, D Salmon², J Benger^1,2

¹ Academic Department of Emergency Care, Emergency Department, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK
² Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Bristol Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr J Benger
Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Bristol Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, BS16 1DD; jonathan.benger{at}ubht.swest.nhs.uk

Objectives: Illegal drug use is common in emergency department (ED) patients, but previous prevalence studies have relied upon approaches that may underestimate the true extent of the problem. The aim of this study was to examine illegal drug use in a typical adult ED.

Methods: We employed an independent researcher to prospectively and anonymously interview patients attending an inner city adult ED throughout all 168 hours of a typical week. Additional information collected from the treating clinician indicated whether each presentation was directly or indirectly related to illegal drug use.

Results: We found that 6.9% of all patient attendances were directly or indirectly related to illegal drug use, and hospital admission was required in nearly half of these. The majority of drug related problems were acute injuries, overdose, and the medical complications of drug use.

Conclusions: This suggests that the emergency healthcare burden related to illegal drug use is substantial, and higher than previously reported.

Abbreviations: ED, emergency department

Keywords: emergency medical services; substance abuse; health care costs

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