title: The risk of emergency room treatment due to overdose in injection drug users.
abstract: This cohort study was conducted to identify risk factors for lifetime emergency room treatment due to overdose in injection drug users. Data of 1049 patients on admission for opioid detoxification were analyzed. More than every third injection drug user (34.7%) experienced emergency room treatment due to an overdose. Using multiple logistic regression not living with a significant other drug user (odds ratio [OR] = 1.78, P = .002), history of suicide attempt (OR = 3.0, P = .000), daily use of barbiturates (OR = 2.17, P = .006) and cannabis (OR = 1.89, P = .001) were independently associated with emergency room treatment, whereas shorter duration of opioid use (OR = 0.23, P = .001) was independently associated with lack of emergency room treatment. Suicidal thoughts and multiple use of central nervous system depressants should be considered in injection drug users entering the emergency room due to an overdose. Emergency rooms should be seen as important places for offering further assistance (e.g., counselling) or referral to an addiction unit to drug users.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Munich Schwabing, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Backmund
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuetz
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Edlin
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000506:poisoning; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000506:poisoning*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000506:poisoning*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009294:Narcotics