Trauma patients may be using, study shows
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.
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