PREVALENCE AND DETECTION OF ILLICIT DRUG DISORDERS AMONG HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of a lifet ime history of illicit drug dependence-abuse among hospitalized patien ts, and to determine the rate of identification of these patients by p hysicians. This cross-sectional study included patient interview and c hart review in an acute-care teaching hospital. The participants were 235 randomly selected inpatients with medical, neurologic, or surgical diagnosis. The prevalence of lifetime history of dependence-abuse of at least one class of illicit drug was 11.9%. Across all classes of dr ugs, hospitalized patients had higher prevalences than community estim ates. Only 18% of patients had documentation of having been asked abou t illicit drug use compared to 49% having been asked about alcohol use . There was no significant difference in physicians' asking across cli nical services: Medicine 21%, Neurology 15%, Surgery 14%. Smokers, unm arried persons, and patients without a regular physician were most lik ely to have been asked. Screening for drug abuse is not routinely perf ormed and documented among hospitalized patients. Wider identification of persons at risk for drug use may allow for specific physician inte rventions.