The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a report July 2 on drug-related emergency room (ER) visits in 2010. There were 4.0 million drug-related ED visits made by patients aged 21 or older in 2010. Of these visits, 1.9 million, 47.2 percent, involved drug misuse or abuse.
The total number of drug-related ED visits increased 94 percent from 2004 (2.5 million visits) to 2010 (4.9 million visits).
- ED visits involving misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals increased 115 percent between 2004 and 2010.
- ED visits involving misuse or abuse of narcotic pain relievers increased 156 percent between 2004 and 2010.
- ED visits involving misuse or abuse of oxycodone products increased 255 percent between 2004 and 2010.
- ED visits involving misuse or abuse of benzodiazepines increased 139 percent between 2004 and 2010.
| DAWN Report: Misused or Abused Drugs Most Commonly Involved in Emergency Department (ED) Visits: 2004 to 2010 |
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| Drug | 2004 Number of ED Visits | 2010 Number of ED Visits | % Change, 2004 to 2010 | 2010 ED Visits per 100,000 Population
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| Alcohol – In Combination with Other Drugs | NA | 564,796 | NA | 182.5 |
| Alcohol – Underage Drinking** | NA | 189,060 | NA | 215.4 |
| Illicit Drugs | 991,640 | 1,171,024 | NC | 378.5 |
| Cocaine | NA | 488,101 | NA | 157.8 |
| Heroin | NA | 224,706 | NA | 72.6 |
| Marijuana | 281,619 | 461,028 | 64 | 149.0 |
| Pharmaceuticals | 626,472 | 1,345,645 | 115 | 434.9 |
| Anti-anxiety and Insomnia Drugs | 210,711 | 472,769 | 124 | 152.8 |
| Benzodiazepines | 170,471 | 408,021 | 139 | 131.9 |
| Antidepressants | NA | 105,229 | NA | 34.0 |
| Pain Relievers | 282.275 | 659, 969 | 134 | 213.3 |
| Narcotic Pain Relievers | 166,338 | 425,247 | 156 | 137.4 |
| Hydrocodone Products | 46,536 | 115,739 | 149 | 37.4 |
| Oxycodone Products | 51,418 | 182,748 | 255 | 59.1 |
* Because a visit may involve multiple drugs, the sum of visits by drug will be greater than the total.
**Underage drinking includes both use of alcohol in combination with other drugs and use of alcohol only for patients aged 20 or younger.
The 8-page report can be accessed at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/DAWN096/SR096EDHighlights2010.pdf
Source: 2010 SAMHSA Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) – July 2, 2012