The hidden costs of drug and XXXX use in hospital emergency departments.

@entity1 @entity285 @entity146
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: This study estimates the burden of drug and @entity285 morbidity on hospitals in New South Wales (NSW) by observing a multi-site collective sample utilising survey information and data linkage. Specifically we aimed to determine the prevalence of @entity285 and other drug (AOD) problems and to estimate patterns of utilisation of hospital services, costs of presentations, and admissions for @entity1 with AOD problems. DESIGN AND METHODS: @entity1 were recruited from eight NSW public hospitals presenting to the hospital emergency department over a 10 day period. @entity1 completed a self-administered survey with demographic characteristics and questions about substance use. More than two-thirds (68%) of @entity1 consented to provide access to their NSW Health medical data for a period spanning 2.5 years. RESULTS: One-third (35%) of the total sample were identified as having problematic AOD use with one in five of these @entity1 requiring a high level of intervention. Those @entity1 requiring a high level of intervention present more often and cost more per presentation. If admitted they were more likely to have longer stays and were also more likely to be admitted to a @entity146 ward and have a longer stay in the ward. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates a need for AOD interventions in the emergency department setting, both because it represents an opportunity for intervention in a population in which problems with substance use is highly prevalent, and because there is evidence that AOD imposes additional costs on the health system. [Butler K, Reeve R, Arora S, Viney R, Goodall S, van Gool K, Burns L. The hidden costs of drug and @entity285 use in hospital emergency departments. Drug @entity285 Rev 2016;35:359-366].
