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Emergency department admissions Kumasi, Ghana: Prevalence of alcohol and substance use, and associated trauma
- Source :
- Journal of addictive diseases. 38(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Alcohol and substance use (ASU) are significant contributors to global morbidity, mortality, and health resource utilization. We sought to describe the frequency of ASU use among adult injured patients presenting to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Emergency Department (KATH ED) and to describe injury mechanism and site among injured patients.A cross-sectional study was carried out for six months in 2016 involving all trauma patients and altered mental status patients presenting to the ED in Kumasi, Ghana. Blood alcohol concentration was evaluated with SureScreen Alcometer Breathalyzer, which provided a numeric breath alcohol concentration in mg/L units (BAC). Substance presence was evaluated using saliva strips with Micro-Distribution STATSWAB 6 panel oral fluid devices. Medical charts were reviewed retrospectively for details of history after testing was done at triage.The total number of patients tested for substance use was 171 comprising 146 trauma patients and 25 non-trauma patients with altered mental statuses. Twenty-four percent (41) of patients tested positive for drugs. Of these 41, 29 tested positive for marijuana, six tested for opiates, two tested for oxycodone, two tested positive for cocaine, one tested positive for benzodiazepines, and one tested positive for methamphetamines. About a third (29%) of the patients tested positive for alcohol. Eleven patients (6.4%) tested positive for ASU. Road traffic injuries were the commonest mechanism of injury. Lower limb (42.1%), upper limb (29.2%), and head injuries constituted the most common injuries.ASU may be a preventable cause of injuries among adults presenting to KATH ED.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Substance-Related Disorders
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Alcohol
Ghana
chemistry.chemical_compound
medicine
Prevalence
Humans
Aged
Retrospective Studies
business.industry
Accidents, Traffic
General Medicine
Health resource
Emergency department
Middle Aged
Substance Abuse Detection
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
chemistry
Emergency medicine
Wounds and Injuries
Female
Substance use
business
Emergency Service, Hospital
Alcohol-Related Disorders
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15450848
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of addictive diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9dc351aa9ef1a28e94dbf521efc6599d