Characteristics of Cannabis-Only and Other Drug Users Who Visit the Emergency Department.
Emergency department (ED) settings have gained interest as venues for illegal drug misuse prevention and intervention, with researchers and practitioners attempting to capitalize on the intersection of need and opportunity within these settings. This study of 686 adult patients visiting two EDs for various reasons who admitted drug use compared daily cannabis-only users, nondaily cannabis-only users, and other drug users on sociodemographic and drug-related severity outcomes. The three drug use groups did not differ on most sociodemographic factors or medical problem severity scores. Forty-five percent of the sample was identified as having a drug use problem. ED patients who used drugs other than cannabis were at particular risk for high drug use severity indicators and concomitant problems such as psychiatric problems and alcohol use severity. However, 19-29% of cannabis-only users were identified as having problematic drug use. Furthermore, daily cannabis-only users fared less well than nondaily cannabis users with regard to drug use severity indicators and self-efficacy for avoiding drug use. Results may assist emergency medicine providers and medical social workers in matching patients to appropriate intervention. For example, users of drugs other than cannabis (and perhaps heavy, daily cannabis-only users) may need referral to specialty services for further assessment. Enhancement of motivation and self-efficacy beliefs could be an important target of prevention and treatment for cannabis-only users screened in the ED.
Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies and Services, School of Social Work, San Diego State University , San Diego, California.
Susan I
SI
Woodruff
Department of Psychology, Portland State University , Portland, Oregon.
Cameron T
CT
McCabe
School of Social Work, San Diego State University , San Diego, California.
Melinda
M
Hohman
College of Social Work, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
John D
JD
Clapp
School of Social Work, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado.
Audrey M
AM
Shillington
San Diego State University Research Foundation , San Diego, California.
Kimberly
K
Eisenberg
Trauma Services [MER-62], Scripps Mercy Hospital , San Diego, California.
C Beth
CB
Sise
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Diego , San Diego, California.
Edward M
EM
Castillo
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Diego , San Diego, California.
Theodore C
TC
Chan
Trauma Services [MER-62], Scripps Mercy Hospital , San Diego, California.
Michael J
MJ
Sise
addiction; behavior; drug abuse
Addiction. 1998 Apr;93(4):487-92
9684387
Lancet. 2007 Jul 28;370(9584):319-28
17662880
Subst Abus. 2007;28(3):3-6
18077299
J Public Health (Oxf). 2005 Mar;27(1):62-6
15564279
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007 Mar 16;87(2-3):297-302
17045423
J Psychoactive Drugs. 2015 Apr-Jun;47(2):107-16
25950590
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2014 May 22;9:8
24886786
Addict Behav. 1982;7(4):363-71
7183189
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008 Oct 1;97(3):226-30
18499355
Lancet. 2009 Oct 17;374(9698):1383-91
19837255
J Subst Abuse Treat. 1998 Sep-Oct;15(5):385-91
9750996
Addiction. 2015 Jan;110(1):19-35
25287883
Acad Emerg Med. 2002 Jun;9(6):627-38
12045080
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2013 Apr 08;8(1):8
23566363
Ann Emerg Med. 2014 Nov;64(5):516-25
24999283
J Nerv Ment Dis. 1980 Jan;168(1):26-33
7351540
J Subst Abuse Treat. 2007 Mar;32(2):189-98
17306727
Br J Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;195(6):488-91
19949195
Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2007 Dec;4(1):4-16
18292704
Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015 Apr 17;112(16):271-8
25939318
Addiction. 2014 Jan;109(1):111-9
24112822
West J Emerg Med. 2013 May;14(3):263-70
23687546
Am J Addict. 2015 Oct;24(7):599-606
26337603
J Subst Abuse. 1993;5(2):187-93
8104569