title: NEED FOR SCREENING FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IN EMERGENCY TRAUMA UNITS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of alcohol and drug use and abuse, to identify socio-demographic characteristics that correlated with injury and to identify risk factors for injury in a Nigerian Trauma unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out a general hospital trauma unit in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand one hundred and twenty one trauma patients and 303 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all injuries, 50.1% were road accidents, mean injury severity score was 41.3 SD (11.2), prevalence of alcohol abuse was 27.9%, cannabis abuse 14.0% and pretrauma alcohol use 41.2%, pre-trauma cannabis use was 6.9%. Multivariate analysis shows that age < 31 years 95% CI (0.26-0.89), alcohol abuse 95% CI (1.84-4.64), binge drinking in the previous 30 days 95% CI (1.76-6.46), cannabis abuse 95% CI (1.45-2.88) and pretrauma combined alcohol and cannabis use 95% CI (3.34-11.78) were risk factors for severe injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use and abuse of alcohol and drugs is highly prevalent among trauma patients seeking emergency care. Therefore trauma patients require routine toxicological screening to provide basis for preventive programmes or referrals for them.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. victorlash@yahoo.com
authors: V O
authors: VO
authors: Lasebikan
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Adebayo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009549:Nigeria; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology