Psychostimulant-related health service demand in an inner-city hospital, 2012-2015

To analyse routinely collected data from a hospital database of drug health consultation-liaison (CL) assessments. We aimed to investigate changes in psychostimulant-related health service demand in an inner-city hospital to inform the development of locally appropriate models of care.

We used de-identified drug health CL service data from 2012 to 2015. Psychostimulant-related consultations and admissions were compared with opioid-related consultations and admissions over time, by sex and by ward type (medical units, mental health units or emergency department).

The CL service collected information on 8800 consultations and 4405 hospital admissions from 2012 to 2015. Psychostimulant use was responsible for 684 (7.8%) consultations and 372 (8.4%) admissions. Opioids were related to 1914 (21.8%) consultations and 864 (19.6%) admissions. Psychostimulants were the subject of three times more consultations in 2015 than in 2012, and more than twice as many admissions. Time trend analysis showed a significant time effect for consultations and admissions relating to psychostimulants. Conversely, no significant changes were observed in consultations and admissions relating to opioids.

This study identified a rapid rise in the demand for psychostimulant-related inpatient assessments, suggesting the use of these drugs has increased locally. Because of the impact on the public health system, there is a need to invest in and implement new treatment strategies and services for psychostimulant users.