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Substance abuse and trauma in Cape Town
M Peden1, J van der Spuy, P Smith
1National Trauma Research Programme, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, W Cape. mpeden@mrc.ac.za
Summary
Alcohol and illicit drug use are prevalent in injured patients, with over 60% showing alcohol intoxication and 40% reporting recent illicit drug use. Chronic alcoholism is also a significant issue, affecting over a quarter of patients.
Area of Science:
- Trauma care
- Substance abuse research
- Public health
Background:
- Substance abuse is a significant factor in trauma cases.
- Understanding the prevalence of alcohol and drug use in injured patients is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish baseline data on acute alcohol intoxication, chronic alcoholism, and illicit drug use in injured patients.
- To identify trends and emerging substance abuse issues within this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, descriptive study of 254 injured patients at Groote Schuur Hospital.
- Alcohol consumption assessed via alcolmeter and CAGE questionnaire for chronic alcoholism.
- Urine and sweat analysis for cannabis, morphine, opiates, and methaqualone.
Main Results:
- Predominantly male patients, average age 31.3 years, with injuries from interpersonal violence.
- 60% tested positive for alcohol; over 25% classified as chronic alcoholics.
- 40% used at least one illicit drug recently, primarily cannabis or cannabis/Mandrax ('white pipe'), often linked to interpersonal violence.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol is the most common substance abused by trauma patients.
- There is a concerning rise in simultaneous illicit drug abuse among this population.
- Annual studies are planned to monitor trends and address emerging substance abuse problems in trauma care.