@article{ref1,
title="Psychoactive substances have major impact on injuries in rural arctic Norway - a prospective observational study",
journal="Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica",
year="2021",
author="Wilson, Thomas and Wisborg, Torben and Vindenes, Vigdis and Jamt, Ragnhild G. and Furuhaugen, Håvard and Bogstrand, Stig Tore",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Rural areas have increased injury mortality with a high pre-hospital death rate. Knowledge concerning the impact of psychoactive substances on injury occurrence is lacking for rural arctic Norway. These substances are also known to increase pre-, per- and postoperative risk. The aim was by prospective observational design to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of psychoactive substance use among injured patients in Finnmark county. <br><br>METHODS: From January 2015 to August 2016, patients ≥18 years admitted to hospitals in Finnmark due to injury were approached when competent. Blood was analysed for ethanol, sedatives, opioids, hypnotics and illicit substances in consenting patients, who completed a questionnaire gathering demographic factors, self-reported use/behaviour and incident circumstances. <br><br>RESULTS: In 684 injured patients who consented to participation (81% consented), psychoactive substances were detected in 35.7%, alcohol being the most prevalent (23%). Patients in whom substances were detected were more often involved in violent incidents (odds ratio 8.92 95% confidence interval 3.24-24.61), indicated harmful use of alcohol (odds ratio 3.56, 95% confidence interval 2.34-5.43), reported the incident being a fall (odds ratio 2.21, 95% confidence interval 1.47-3.33) and presented with a reduced level of consciousness (odds ratio 3.91, 95% confidence interval 1.58-9.67). Subgroup analysis revealed significant associations between testing positive for a psychoactive substance and being diagnosed with a head injury or traumatic brain injury. <br><br>CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of injured patients had used psychoactive substances prior to admission. Use was associated with violence, falls, at-risk alcohol consumption, decreased level of consciousness on admittance and head injury.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0001-5172",
doi="10.1111/aas.13807",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aas.13807"
}