Segments of this post appeared on DrugAbuse.gov.
According to a 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) study, there were 4.6 million drug-related 24-hour emergency department (ED) visits in 2009. According to the study, “Almost 50 percent were attributed to adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals taken as prescribed, and 45 percent involved drug abuse.” What’s more alarming is the fact that from 2004 to 2009, drug-related ED visits increased 81 percent, from 2.5 million to 4.6 million visits!
The DAWN estimated that of the 2.1 million drug abuse visits—
- 27.1 percent involved nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals (i.e., prescription or OTC medications, dietary supplements).
- 21.2 percent involved illicit drugs.
- 14.3 percent involved alcohol, in combination with other drugs.
Information courtesy of DrugAbuse.gov
It should also be noted that “in 2009, almost one million visits involved an illicit drug, either alone or in combination with other types of drugs.”
DAWN estimated that—
- cocaine was involved in 422,896 ED visits.
- marijuana was involved in 376,467 ED visits.
- heroin was involved in 213,118 ED visits.
- stimulants, including amphetamines and methamphetamine, were involved in 93,562 ED visits.
- other illicit drugs—such as PCP, ecstasy, and GHB—were involved much less frequently than any of the drug types mentioned above.
Information courtesy of DrugAbuse.gov
Finally, the 2009 DAWN study “estimated 519,650 ED visits related to the use of alcohol in combination with other drugs. Alcohol was most frequently combined with—
- central nervous system agents (e.g., analgesics, stimulants, sedatives) (229,230 visits).
- cocaine (152,631 visits).
- marijuana (125,438 visits).
- psychotherapeutic agents (e.g., antidepressants and antipsychotics) (44,217 visits)
- heroin (43,110 visits).
Information courtesy of DrugAbuse.gov