Trauma patients may be using, study shows
August 1, 1997 less than 1 minute read
Trauma patients may be using, study shows
Don’t let trauma patients’ injuries distract you from the possibility that they may have another problem worth treating. A new study recommends screening trauma patients for alcohol and drug addiction, along with intervention and referral.
A high percentage of seriously injured trauma center patients are at risk of having current psychoactive substance use disorders, investigators reported recently.1 Trauma may be a potential symptom of dependence or addiction. New findings show that the dependence-to-abuse ratios of alcohol and drug diagnoses are 9-to-1 among trauma patients. That ratio among the general population is 3-to-1. Among nonaccidental injury victims, investigators found a 36% rate of current drug dependence and 30% alcoholism.
Study authors recommend adding the following steps to trauma center procedure:
• Consider all patients at high risk for a substance use disorder.
• Test for alcohol and other abuse drugs.
• Administer an alcohol and drug screening questionnaire as a supplement to blood alcohol concentration and urine testing.
• Refer patients found to be alcohol- or drug-positive for formal evaluation and treatment.
Reference
1. Soderstrom CA, Smith GS, Dischinger PC, et al. Psychoactive substance use disorders among seriously injured trauma center patients. JAMA 1997; 277:1769-1774.
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content