*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1994.12.12 : Increase in Drug-Related Emergency Room Cases Contact: Pat El-Hinnawy (301) 443-8956 December 12, 1994 DRUG-RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM CASES UP NATIONALLY The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration today released data showing an 8 percent overall increase in drug- related emergency room cases from 1992 to 1993. The data from DAWN -- the Drug Abuse Warning Network -- showed no significant changes in several categories including cocaine- related emergency visits, but showed a 31 percent increase in heroin-related emergency room visits, a 22 percent increase in marijuana/hashish-related cases, and a 53 percent increase in "speed" or methamphetamine cases. Cases related to alcohol-drug combinations, methadone and LSD showed no statistically significant change. HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala said, "Nearly half of all heroin- and cocaine-related emergency room visits were for detoxification or for treatment of chronic medical conditions, including AIDS, related to drug use. This shows, in part, that we need to intervene earlier to help people get treatment for drug use in a more effective and less expensive setting than an emergency room -- before they develop chronic medical conditions." Besides AIDS, the ailments that could lead drug users to emergency rooms include such conditions as chronic active hepatitis, recurring abscesses, neurotic disorders such as anxiety and hysteria, and depressive disorders. HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Philip R. Lee, M.D., who is director of the Public Health Service, said, "The DAWN figures show the trap of addiction, and the costly consequences for the individual's health and for society. DAWN shows the importance of education and other steps to prevent drug use, and of early treatment when it occurs." The overall upward trend in cocaine-related emergency department visits occurring since 1985 appeared to level off in 1993, although six of 21 metropolitan areas surveyed still reported increases from 1992 to 1993, with large increases in Buffalo (57 percent), Miami (36 percent) and Detroit (31 percent). "The report suggests that we continue to have a large group of aging habitual drug users who are experiencing more and more drug- related medical problems and, as a result, have become dependent on hospital emergency rooms for medical services," said Nelba Chavez, Ph.D., administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency of the Public Health Service. SAMHSA conducts the DAWN survey. "As this population ages, it is likely that we will see more use of emergency rooms by this group. It is imperative that we break this cycle by finding more effective ways of bringing those in need into treatment." The DAWN survey provides information on the impact of drug use on hospital emergency departments in the United States. It reports the number of episodes in which a person's visit to the emergency department was directly related to the use of an illegal drug or the non-medical use of a legal drug, including suicide attempts. DAWN does not measure the prevalence of drug use, but rather some of its health consequences. In 1993, 508 hospitals provided information on drug-related emergency room visits as part of the DAWN reporting system. Demographic characteristics Age: From 1992 to 1993, the total number of drug-related episodes rose by 12 percent for those aged 35 years and over (from 154,600 to 172,800), by 5 percent for those aged 26 to 34 years (from 133,500 to 140,200), and by 10 percent for persons aged 12 to 17 years (from 46,800 to 51,300). There was no change among persons aged 18-25 years. In 1993, 37 percent of total drug-related episodes occurred among persons aged 35 years and older, while 30 percent occurred among persons aged 26-34 years. Race/ethnicity: From 1992 to 1993, total drug-related episodes increased by 13 percent for Hispanics/Latinos (from 42,200 to 47,600) and by 7 percent for whites (from 235,600 to 252,000). There was no change among African-Americans. Gender: Total drug-related episodes increased by 9 percent for women (from 210,100 to 228,800) and 6 percent for men (from 219,600 to 233,300) from 1992 to 1993. Total drug-related episodes among men and women have been approximately equal since 1988. However, men account for most cocaine- and heroin-related episodes (67 percent and 71 percent respectively). Total emergency room visits This year for the first time, DAWN data were compared by demographic group to data on total emergency room visits for all causes compiled in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which was conducted in 1992 by another PHS agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In all, in 1992 there were 570 drug-related episodes for every 100,000 emergency room visits nationwide. African-Americans used emergency rooms for treatment of drug-related problems at a rate of 918 episodes per 100,000 overall visits; Hispanics/Latinos at a rate of 595 per 100,000 visits and whites at 437 per 100,000. The rate of drug-related episodes among men was 613 per 100,000 total emergency room visits and 522 among women. By age, persons in age groups 26-34 and 35-44 both used emergency rooms for drug-related crises at a rate of 944 episodes per 100,000 total emergency room visits. ### Note: Copies of the 1993 DAWN Advance Report No. 8 are available from the SAMHSA press office, (301) 443-8956.