The impact of Amphetamine-Related Disorders on community psychiatric emergency services: 1993-1997

Trends in number, I relative prevalence, and demographics of adult psychiat ric admissions to the county psychiatric emergency service in Sacramento, C alifornia, for treatment of Amphetamine-Related Disorders (ARDs) (N = 2,428 ) between July 1993 and July 1997 were examined. ARDs accounted for 11.2% o f all emergency admissions (N = 21,615) and were the most frequent substanc e-related disorder requiring admission during the study period. Patients wi th ARDs tended to be Caucasian or Hispanic males in their mid 30s. 38% of t he ARD patients required further inpatient psychiatric care. The trends in numbers of ARDs tended to parallel other local and national non-psychiatric indicators of amphetamine-induced morbidity.