SAFE GC Coalition: Drug-Related Emergency Department Visits

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) collects data to understand substance by monitoring drug-related emergency department (ED) visits, including those related to alcohol, to inform programs to aid in preventing overdose and substance use-related health consequences. Data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) is used to inform those communications, serving as a nationwide public health surveillance system that captures data on ED visits related to recent different opioid types involved in ED visits.

Weighted National Estimates for all Drug-Related ED Visits in 2022 are as follows:

• There were an estimated total of 7,714,521 drug-related ED visits in the U.S. in 2022. Rates of drug-related ED visits from participating hospitals were highest among individuals with the following characteristics: 26 to 44 and 45 to 64 years, male, Black or African American, and not Hispanic or Latino.
• While the proportion of drug-related ED visits was highest among White individuals compared to other races, after accounting for the underlying population, Black or African American individuals had significantly higher rates compared to White individuals.
• Alcohol was reported in the highest percentage of drug-related ED visits (45.0%), followed by opioids (12.7%) and cannabis (11.9%). › While White individuals accounted for the highest percentage of alcohol-related ED visits (57.2%), Black individuals had a significantly higher rate (1,498 per 100,000), nearly double that of White individuals (735 per 100,000).
• When estimating the rate of drug-related ED visits for the top 6 drugs (alcohol, opioid, cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzodiazepine) notable similarities and differences were identified. The rates of drug-related visits were highest for 26- to 44-year-olds for most drugs, including alcohol, opioid, methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzodiazepine. However, cannabis-related ED visits were highest in individuals 18 to 25 years.
• Males had higher drug-related ED visits for all top drugs except benzodiazepine. For benzodiazepine related visits, the percentages and rates were similar between males and females.
• Heroin was reported in 44.0 percent, and prescription or other opioids were reported in 39.4 percent of opioid-related ED visits. Fentanyl-related visits were reported at 20.8 percent. › Oxycodone was the most common opioid reported in prescription or other opioid-related ED visits (32.9%).

This data provides information to help improve patient care and clinical outcomes in the ED and supports the need to recognize the potential of the ED as an important and vital setting for improving treatment and screening of Substance Use Disorders.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is charged with improving the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and the cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses. For more information about SAMHSA please visit www.samhsa.gov.

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is conducting an opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled. “Keeping Glen Cove SAFE,” in order to educate and update the community regarding opioid use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic at www.safeglencove.org.