Abstract

GOMEZ-RESTREPO, Carlos et al. Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use in Non-Psychiatric Patients Seen at an Emergency Department in Bogotá. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2011, vol.40, n.4, pp.709-722. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: Psychoactive substance abuse is a world public health problem. Drug users tend to use emergency services more than non-users. Objective: To determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of the use of six substances in people between the ages of 18 and 65, seen at the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Bogotá. Method: Cross sectional study with stratified sampling by age and gender groups of adult patients who were seen at the emergency department (ED). Data collected included demographic, medical, pharmacological, and toxicological information. Toxicological analysis was performed with Scan Breath Test to detect alcohol and KO Screeners to screen urine for use of cannabinoids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and opiates in the last six hours. Results: Analyses were performed in 473 patients. The prevalence of any substance was 7.8%. The substance most frequently detected was opiates, followed by alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines. Conclusions: The prevalence of psychoactive drug use in the general population of the ED is high. According to these results, 8 of out of 100 people who use emergency services have used a psychoactive substance in the last six hours. The prevalence of self-report was very low compared with the positive results of the toxicology tests.

Keywords : Substance-related disorders; drug users; emergencies; prevalence.

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