Demographic and substance use factors related to violent and accidental injuries: results from an emergency room study

Objective The primary goal of this study was to identify demographic and su bstance use factors associated with violent injuries, accidental injuries, and medical conditions or illnesses (non-injured). Method Data were examine d from a sample of 1701 admissions to emergency rooms at two Canadian hospi tals. These patients were interviewed and provided urine samples to detect the presence of drug metabolites for alcohol, THC, benzodiazepines, barbitu rates, morphine, and codeine. Results Those with violent injuries were sign ificantly (P < 0.0001) more likely to be male and have lower incomes compar ed with both the accidental injury and non-injury groups. About 37% of viol ent injuries occurred ata bar or restaurant, which was significantly more t han 3% for accidental injuries and 2% for non-injuries (P < 0.00001). The v iolent injury group was significantly more likely than the other two groups to report feeling the effects off alcohol at the time of the injury and to report negative consequences of alcohol use (P < 0.00001). Furthermore, ab out 42% of those with violent injuries had a blood alcohol level (BAL) over 80 mg% compared to only 4% with accidental injuries (P < 0.00001) and 2% o f non-injuries (P < 0.00001). In terms of drug tests for other substances, the violent injury group was significantly more likely to test positive or benzodiazepines than the accidental injury group (P < 0.01) while all betwe en group comparisons for other drugs were not significant. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.