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1992.08.05 :  DAWN Data

Contact:  Mona W. Brown Karen Rogich (301) 443-6245
August 5, 1992

       The  National Institute on Drug Abuse today released data
showing that drug abuse-related hospital emergency room episodes
declined 7.1 percent during the last quarter of 1991, after
increasing during the first three quarters of 
1991.  
       The declines are evident across most of the individual drugs
tracked by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) and for most of
the 21 metropolitan areas included in the emergency room sample:
       o Total drug-related emergency room episodes decreased from
104,480 in the third quarter to 97,082 in the fourth quarter of
1991--a statistically significant decline.  
       o Heroin-related emergencies declined significantly by 13.9
percent, from 10,364 in the third quarter to 8,924 in the fourth
quarter.  
       o Cocaine-related emergencies also decreased 4.1 percent,
from 28,700 to 27,537, but this change is not statistically
significant. 
       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., said, "While we are
encouraged by the latest declines, we must not be lulled into
thinking that the problem of drug addiction -- and the need to
expand our capacity for drug treatment -- has even slightly
lessened.  It has not.  That need today is urgent.  We are dealing 

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with a core of drug users who, in many cases, are seeking emergency
room treatment for the consequences of years of abuse.  Their
problem with drugs is this nation's problem with drugs.  It will
only be lessened through effective treatment.  
    "Therefore, like Governor Robert Martinez, director of the
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, I urge the
Congress to fully fund the president's FY '93 drug budget request,
especially the treatment request.  About this same time last year,
Congress decided to cut from our FY '92 treatment slot base nearly
3,700 slots from what it was in FY '91.  For FY '93 we have asked
for 17,000 additional slots over FY '92, which would help us make up
for the loss in FY '92 and gain another 11,000 slots.  America needs
the added treatment capacity--now.  A failure to fully fund the
president's request would mean that many more desperate addicts who
need treatment will continue to rock the foundations of our cities."

    Despite the fourth quarter declines, there was a
statistically significant 7.3 percent increase in drug-related
emergencies between 1990 to 1991, that is, during the three quarters
of increase and the one of decline.  Total episodes increased from
371,208 in 1990 to 398,349 in 1991, but were still below the 425,904
episodes reported in 1989.    
    Cocaine-related emergencies showed a statistically
significant 29.3 percent increase from 80,335 in 1990 to 103,890 in
1991, still lower than the 1989 estimate of 110,013 episodes. 
Heroin-related 
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emergencies increased from 33,884 in 1990 to 37,185 in 1991, a non-
statistically significant increase of 9.7 percent, and lower than
the 41,656 episodes reported in 1989.  
    In both 1990 and 1991, smoking was the prominent route of
administration for cocaine, and injection the prominent route of
administration for heroin.  No changes were found between 1990 and
1991 in distribution of emergency room episodes by "route of
administration" or "reasons for seeking emergency room care" that
can explain the rise in cocaine- or heroin-related emergencies. 
Most emergency room visits involved a need for drug detoxification,
or need for treatment of chronic medical effects, psychiatric
effects, or unexpected drug reactions.  
    DAWN is a large-scale, ongoing system that collects data on
drug-related hospital emergency room episodes nationwide and in 21
metropolitan areas.  DAWN data reflect "consequences" of drug use
and are not a precise indicator of the incidence or prevalence of
drug use.     
    NIDA is a component of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental
Health Administration, one of the eight U.S. Public Health Service
agencies within HHS.  


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