Drug dependence and its risk factors in emergency department patients A retrospective cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of acute disease Vol. 10; no. 5; pp. 202 - 207
• Main Authors: Yavuz, Erdal, Turgut, Kasim, Gulacti, Umut, Lok, Ugur, Altunisik, Erman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-10-2021; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Biperiden; Drug abuse; drug with addictive portential; drug dependence; emergency room; risk; Drugs; Emergency service; Hospitals; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Risk factors
• ISSN: 2221-6189; 2221-6189
• DOI: 10.4103/2221-6189.326910

Objective: To determine the characteristics and risk factors of drug dependence among patients who were administered drugs with addictive potential (DAP) in an emergency department (ED). Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients who were administered DAP 3 or more times in the emergency room between September 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020. The demographic and baseline information were recorded. All the prescibed DAP, the reasons to use these drugs, secondary drug dependence, the department where DAP were first prescribed, types of doctors who preferred to prescribed DAP, and the risk factors for the development of drug dependence were determined. Results: A total of 3 000 patients were screened from medical records, and among them, 80 patients developed drug dependence. Drug dependence only developed for tramadol (n=57, 71.3%), diazepam (n=11, 13.8%), and biperiden (n=12, 15.0%). Tramadol was the most frequently prescribed drug (n=57, 71.3%). The most common reason for drug dependence was psychiatric disorders (n=29, 36.3%). Drug dependence developed in renal colic patients due to the administration of tramadol (n=7, 100%). On the contrary, dependence to biperiden were mainly developed in patients with psychiatric complaints (n=12, 41.4%). The rate of secondary drug dependence was 15% (n=12). Of the Biperiden users, 41.7% developed secondary drug dependence on diazepam. Most DAP were first prescribed in the ED (n=52, 65%), and the specialist preferred to prescribe DAP (n=43, 53.8%). For the development of dependence, the presence of renal colic (OR: 3.387, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.473-7.788, P=0.004) and low back pain (OR: 5.778, 95% CI: 2.779-12.014, P<0.001) were the risk factors. Conclusions: Most DAP were first prescribed in the ED compared to other departments, and specialist are preferred to use DAP. Tramadol is the most commonly used drugs caused drug dependence. Psychiatric disorder patients are easier to develope drug dependence. Furthermore, renal colic and low back pain patients needs more attention to avert drug dependence.