title: Socio-demographic and clinical profile of substance abuse patients admitted to an emergency department in Ankara, Turkey.
abstract: Illicit drug abuse is an important health problem around the world. Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug, followed by amphetamines, opioids, and cocaine. In this study, we searched the socio-demographic features of drug abusers admitted to an emergency department.
  
  
  
  The study was performed in the emergency department of an education and training hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The socio-demographic features, substances commonly consumed, and the reason for the patients' presentation were recorded.
  
  
  
  The mean age of patients was 28.3±9.2. Of those under study, 93.3% were male; 68.7% were discharged from the emergency department after a short observation period; and 10.4% were hospitalized. The median age of the patients' first experience with illicit substances was 19 (4-56).
  
  
  
  Illicit drug use remains a significant medical health problem, not only in Turkey but also around the world. Abusers frequently seek emergency services, complaining of various symptoms, but generally do not mention their substance abuse. Emergency physicians must ask patients if they use abuse drugs.
authors.affiliation: . fatihbuyukcam@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: Ridvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarikaya
authors.forename: Nezih
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavak
authors.forename: Fatma Nihal
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Özmen
authors.forename: Macit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Engin Deniz
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Büyükcam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: substance abuse, illicit drug, emergency department, socio-demographic profile