Study of Drug Abuse among Trauma Patients in Sohag University Hospitals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abstract

Background: Individuals who actively engage in drug use can become exposed to potentially traumatic events as a result of the consumption and acquisition of drugs as both tend to nurture violent and criminal activity.
Materials and methods: this cross-sectional study conducted on 300 trauma victims of both sexes, admitted to Sohag University hospitals .Urine samples were taken from all patients immediately after admission. Urinary samples were tested by Immunoassay (ABON™ Multi-Drug) which is one step screen test panel used for qualitative detection of drugs of abuse which includes (Tramadol, Opiate, THC, Amphetamine, Barbiturate, Benzodiazepines).Only positive cases were confirmed by drug analyzer.
Results: Of the 300 patients 82 patients were moderately injured and only two patients were severely injured .Of the 300 patients 46 (15.3%) tested positive for one or more drugs. The drugs most commonly detected were tramadol (26patients, 8.3%), cannabinoids (14patients, 4.6%), Benzodiazepines (10, 3.3%) and opium (2 patients, 0.6%).
 Conclusions: drug abuse is a common cause of trauma.

  1. Blondell  R.D., Dodds   H.N., Looney  S.W., Lewis  C.M., Hagan  J.L., Lukan J.K and Servoss T.J.(2005):Toxicology screening results: injury associations among hospitalized trauma patients. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 58(3):561-570.
  2. Blow F.C., Walton M.A., Barry K.L., Murray R.L., Cunningham R.M., Massey L.S., Chermack S.T andBooth B.M. (2011): Alcohol and drug use among patients presenting to an inner-city emergency Department, Addictive Behaviors, 36:793-800.
  3. Bowley D.M., Rein  P., Snyman  T., Boffard  K.D., Cherry  R. and Vellema, J.( 2004): Substance abuse and major trauma in Johannesburg. South African Journal of Surgery, 42(1):7-10.
  4. DischingerP.C., MitchellK.A., KuferaJ.A., SoderstromC.A. and Lowenfels A.B. (2001): A longitudinal study of  former trauma center patients: the association between toxicology status and subsequent injury mortality. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 51(5):877-886.
  5. Fawzi M. M. (2011): Some medico legal aspects concerning tramadol abuse: The new Middle East youth plague 2010. An Egyptian overview. Egyptian journal of Forensic Sciences, 1(2): 99-102.
  6. Giovanardi D., Castellana C.N., Pisa S., Poppi B., Pinetti D., Bertolini A and Ferrari   A.(2005): Prevalence of abuse of alcohol and other drugs among injured drivers presenting to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Modena, Italy. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 80(1):135-138.
  7. Guardia S.C., Rodríguez-Bolaños  S., López  F.G., Lara-Rosales  R., Sánchez  F.P., Rayo  A. and Fernandez-Mondejar  E.( 2013): Alcohol and/or drug abuse favors trauma recurrence and reduces the trauma-free period. Medicina Intensiva (English Edition), 37(1):6-11.
  8. Johnson S.D., Striley S and Cottler L.B. (2006): The association of substance use disorders with trauma exposure and PTSD among African American drug users, Addictive Behaviors, 31, 2063–2073
  9. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (n.d.) (2005): Understanding Drug Abuse and trauma http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/understand.html/ Accessed 30/8/2015.
  10. Pape H.C., Oestern H.J., Leenen L., Yates D.W., Stalp M., Grimme K., Tscherne H., Krettek C., and the German Polytrauma Study Group (2000): Documentation of blunt trauma in Europe, Eur. J. Trauma; 5, 233-247.
  11. Peden M., Van der Spuy J., Smith P and Bautz P. (2000): Substance abuse and  trauma in Cape Town. South African Medical Journal, 90(3): 251-255.
  12. Walsh J.M., Flegel R., Atkins R., Cangianelli L.A., Cooper C., Welsh C and Kerns T.J.(2005): Drug and alcohol use among drivers admitted to a Level-1 trauma center. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 37(5):894-901.