Injury, alcohol, and drug use in an emergency department in Mexico City

Background There is no prior study in Mexico reporting on the 6-h prevalence and risk of drug use among injured patients attending an Emergency Department (ED). Methods We report here on a sample of 705 adult patients, admitted to the ED of a public hospital in Mexico City (January and February 2002). Patients reported on alcohol and drug use (amphetamines, tranquilizers, marihuana, cocaine, cocaine-crack, hallucinogens, inhalants, heroin, and others) during the last 12 months, within the 6 h prior to the injury and for the day prior to the injury, the same day the week prior and the same day the last month. Results Drug use was not just infrequently reported immediately before the injury but was less frequently reported in that period than in any other control period. Co-occurrence of drug use and alcohol was not common and did not increase the risk of an injury. Sole use of alcohol was a strong risk factor, while sole use of drugs decreased the risk of injury. Conclusions It is not apparent why drug use alone reduces the risk of an injury. Studies focusing on a single cause of injuries with larger samples to study the differential effects of specific drugs are needed.