Emergency Visits for Substance-Related Medical Problems

Every year, many substances abusers find themselves seeking emergency medical treatment for overdoses, withdrawal, and other negative side effects of drug and/or alcohol use, abuse, and addiction. These visits represent a significant and, too often, preventable cost to hospitals, insurance companies, and society overall. This article discusses the types of substances – as well as substance-using behaviors – that have a greater chance of ending in a hospital’s Emergency Department.

What is the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)?>

Part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Drug Abuse Warning Network monitors public healthy across the country by tracking drug-related emergency room visits. DAWN also keeps records of drug-related deaths that are investigated by various health professionals.

How often do substance-related Emergency Department visits occur?

Data released from DAWN about substance-related visits to Emergency Departments (EDs) indicated that, during the last 6 months of 2003, nearly 628,000 ED visits were drug-related. The average number of drugs involved in a visit was 1.7; these drugs included inhalants, prescription medications, illegal substances, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements. About half (305,700 of these visits) involved an illicit substance and/or alcohol.

Visits that were specifically related to “misuse or abuse” of a drug numbered 332,046 during this same period. Of these visits, 65% involved the combination of alcohol and illicit substances, and 54% involved multiple drugs.

Which drugs have the highest rates of Emergency visits as a result of misuse or abuse?

• 28% - Cocaine.

• 26% - Alcohol.

• 20% - Marijuana.

• 17% - Benzodiazepines (Anti-anxiety Medications).

• 17% - Opiates/Opioids (Pain Relievers).

• 10% - Heroin.

• 10% - Major Stimulants (Amphetamines/Methamphetamines).

How often are other substances (like “club drugs”) associated with ED visits?

• PCP – 4,581 visits

• Ecstasy – 2,221 visits

• GHB – 990 visits

• LSD – 656 visits

• Ketamine – 73 visits

• Hallucinogens – 684 visits

• Inhalants (non-pharmaceutical) – 1,681 visits