title: Estimating prevalence of drug and alcohol presentations to hospital emergency departments in NSW, Australia: impact of hospital consultation liaison services.
abstract: The impact of drug and alcohol misuse has been the subject of widespread media discussion in the past year, particularly in the context of restricted alcohol trading hours in an effort to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence. A recent study evaluating NSW Health's drug and alcohol consultation liaison (CL) services1 demonstrates how pervasive drug and alcohol problems are, and the impact they have on the health system. This paper highlights how expanding CL services to fill current unmet need could deliver a range of benefits to patients and hospitals.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, kerryn.butler@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kerryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Social Impact, UNSW Australia, Sydney.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rosalie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viney
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney.
authors.forename: Lucinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000066608:Underage Drinking