Characteristics and comorbidity of drug and alcohol-related emergency department presentations detected by nursing triage text

Addiction. 2010 May;105(5):897-906. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02857.x. Epub 2010 Feb 9.

Abstract

Introduction: This study used nursing triage text to detect drug- and alcohol-related emergency department (ED) presentations and describe their patient and service delivery characteristics.

Methods: Data were reviewed for all ED presentations from 2004 to 2006 (n = 263 937) from two hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Each record included two nursing triage free-text fields, which were searched for more than 100 drug-related and more than 60 alcohol-related terms. Adjusted odds ratios were used to compare the characteristics of drug and alcohol-related ED presentations with all other ED presentation types.

Results: Just over 5% of ED presentations were identified as alcohol-related and 2% as drug-related. The most prevalent drug-related ED presentations specified were related to amphetamines (18%), heroin (14%), cannabis (14%) and ecstasy (12%), while nearly half (43%) were drug unspecified. Polydrug use was mentioned in 25% of drug-related and 9% of alcohol-related ED presentations, with the highest rate of polydrug use among ecstasy-related (68%) presentations. Drug- and alcohol-related ED presentations were significantly more likely than other ED presentations to have a mental health diagnosis, with the highest rates found among cannabis-related (OR = 7.6) or amphetamine-related (OR = 7.5) presentations.

Conclusion: The ED provides an opportunity for early intervention for patients presenting with comorbid drug and alcohol and mental health problems. Further research is needed to assess the prevalence of drug and alcohol problems in ED patients with mental health problems and to develop effective interventions in that setting.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Comorbidity
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / organization & administration*
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Admission
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / nursing
  • Triage / standards*