Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
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J Stud Alcohol Drugs · May 2012
Trends in alcohol- and drug-related emergency department and primary care visits: data from four U.S. national surveys (1995-2010).
The purpose of this study was to update trends in alcohol- and drug-related emergency department and primary care visits over the last 15 years in the United States. ⋯ These data suggest that alcohol-related emergency department visits have increased significantly over the past 15 years, whereas drug-related emergency department visits may have stabilized. These findings underscore the opportunity provided by the emergency department for screening and brief intervention for alcohol-related problems and suggest that Healthy People 2010 objectives calling for a reduction in substance-related emergency department visits were not realized. Thus, it might be prudent to adjust Healthy People 2020 objectives accordingly.