Author: Drug Abuse Warning Network
Title: Emergency Department Visits Involving Illicit Drug Use among Males
Summary: The use of illicit drugs (e.g., marijuana, heroin, and cocaine) may lead to serious health issues such as unintentional injuries, car accidents, and overdoses that may require acute emergency care. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data show that 1 in 10 males aged 12 or older reported past month illicit drug use in 2009, compared with 1 in 15 females. The same data show that males were also more likely than females to be past month users of marijuana (8.6 vs. 4.8 percent), the use of which has been found to contribute to traffic accidents and other injuries. The higher illicit drug rates for males suggests that negative consequences associated with illicit drug use, such as emergency department (ED) visits, may be disproportionately found among males. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) is a public health surveillance system that monitors drug-related ED visits in the United States. To be a DAWN case, an ED visit must have involved a drug, either as the direct cause of the visit or as a contributing factor. Data are collected on numerous illicit drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and stimulants (i.e., amphetamines and methamphetamines). This issue of The DAWN Report focuses on ED visits involving illicit drug use among males. Data for 2004 to 2009 are presented, both as trends over time and also as annual averages for the 6-year period. Illicit drug use among females is covered in a separate report.
Details: Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011. 6p.
Source: The DAWN Report, DAWN_017: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2012 at
Year: 2011
Country: United States
URL:
Shelf Number: 124381
Keywords:
Drug AbuseIllicit DrugsMales 00 InjuryMedical Care |
