Alcohol Involved in Many ED Visits and Deaths Related to Prescription Drug Abuse
NEJM – Journal Watch
By Cara Adler
Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS
Alcohol was involved in about one in five deaths related to abuse of opioid pain relievers or benzodiazepines in 2010, according to a study published in MMWR.
In an analysis of data on drug-related emergency department visits nationwide and deaths in 13 states, CDC and FDA researchers found the following:
Alcohol was involved in 19% of the 440,000 ED visits related to opioid abuse and in 27% of the 410,000 visits related to benzodiazepine abuse.
Alcohol was involved in 22% of the nearly 4000 opioid-related deaths and in 21% of the 1500 benzodiazepine-related deaths.
The authors note that when healthcare providers prescribe these drugs, they should discuss the risks of combining them with alcohol or other depressants.
Link(s):
MMWR article (Free)
Background: Physician’s First Watch coverage of prescription drug abuse increasing in women (Free)
