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High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
Declared and undeclared substance use among emergency department patients: a population-based study
Ian R H Rockett1, Sandra L Putnam, Haomiao Jia
1Injury Control Research Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, 26506, USA. irockett@hsc.wvu.edu
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|May 4, 2006
Summary
Toxicological screening significantly increased estimates of substance use prevalence in emergency department patients, particularly for older adults and certain drug classes. This highlights the importance of screening for detecting undeclared drug use.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
Background:
- Emergency departments (EDs) are critical access points for healthcare.
- Substance use is a significant public health issue with potential under-reporting in clinical settings.
- Accurate prevalence data is crucial for effective public health interventions and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate self-reported and corrected prevalence of substance use among general hospital ED patients.
- To identify factors associated with undeclared substance use.
- To evaluate the impact of toxicological screening on prevalence estimates.
Main Methods:
- A state-wide, cross-sectional survey of 1502 adult ED patients in Tennessee.
- Inclusion of toxicological screening alongside self-reported substance use data.
- Multivariate analysis of socio-demographics, health status, and treatment history as covariates for undeclared use.
Main Results:
- Overall substance use prevalence increased from 44% to 56% for females and 61% to 69% for males after correction for under-reporting.
- Largest increases in prevalence were observed for opioids, benzodiazepines, marijuana, and amphetamines/methamphetamine.
- Elderly patients (65+) and those not reporting tobacco addiction or substance abuse treatment showed higher rates of undeclared use.
Conclusions:
- Toxicological screening significantly enhances the detection of undeclared substance use, especially among the elderly.
- While alcohol use prevalence showed minimal change, other drug use estimates were markedly increased.
- Screening tests are valuable tools for improving the accuracy of substance use surveillance in ED populations.
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