@article{ref1,
title="The Emergency Department as a prevention site: A demographic analysis of substance use among ED patients",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2013",
author="Hankin, Abigail and Daugherty, Mikyta and Bethea, Angela and Haley, Leon",
volume="130",
number="1-3",
pages="230-233",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To identify rates of alcohol and drug use among patients presenting to an inner-city Emergency Department (ED) and to describe demographic and health characteristics of patients with high-risk use. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients presenting to the ED for any complaint. Patients were administered a brief screening about past 12-months alcohol and drug use. Patients who answered &quot;yes&quot; to any question were approached for a longer survey, the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Based on ASSIST scores patients received a brief intervention, and, when appropriate, a referral for brief outpatient therapy or specialized substance abuse treatment. Patients whose score indicated high-risk or dependent use were also asked demographic and health questions. RESULTS: Over a 20-month period, 19,055 patients were pre-screened. 87.1% of patients were black, 57% were male, with average age 44.8 years. 27.6% of patients pre-screened positive for drug or alcohol use; among these patients 44.2% scored in the low-risk range on the ASSIST, 35.8% moderate risk, 10% high risk and 10% probable dependence. Among patients with high-risk or dependent use, 70% rated their current health as fair/poor, with a mean of 1.7 ED visits in the prior 30 days. 40.7% reported &quot;extreme&quot; stress due to their use. 34.6% reported that they had stable housing and 13.6% were fully employed. CONCLUSION: Among all patients seen in the ED for any complaint, a significant proportion is engaged in alcohol and drug use that increases their risk of health and social consequences.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.10.027",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.10.027"
}