Hospital Visits
Hospital Visits
The latest data on drug abuse-related
alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter
hospital emergency department (ED)
(OTC) pharmaceuticals, dietary supple-
visits are findings from the Drug Abuse
ments, and nonpharmaceutical inhalants.
Warning Network (DAWN), based on
SAMHSA estimates 305,731 drug-related
data for the second half of 2003. DAWN
ED visits involved alcohol or a major illicit
is a public health surveillance system that
drug; this is nearly half (49 percent) of all
monitors drug-related ED visits for select-
drug-related ED visits.
ed metropolitan areas and provides esti-
mates for the Nation. It is a product of the
• Cocaine was involved in 125,921 ED
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
visits, or 20 percent of all drug-related
Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S.
ED visits.
Department of Health and Human
• Marijuana was involved in 79,663, or
Services. For the reporting period, 260
nearly 13 percent, of all drug-related
out of 518 sampled hospitals submitted
ED visits.
usable data to DAWN. On average, each
• Heroin was involved in 47,604, or
DAWN member hospital submitted 260
nearly 8 percent, of all drug-related
DAWN cases, or about 43 per month.
ED visits.
• Stimulants, including amphetamines
The findings below are summarized as a
and methamphetamine, were involved
courtesy by NIDA, for those interested in
in 42,538, or nearly 7 percent of all
drug-related hospital emergency data.
drug-related ED visits.
For more detailed findings, please visit
• Unspecified opiates, some of which
oas.samhsa.gov.
may be heroin, occurred in 24,623,
or nearly 4 percent, of all drug-
Highlights from the 2003
related ED visits.
Drug Abuse Warning
Network (DAWN)*———
The following illicit drugs were mentioned
less frequently than those above:
For the third and fourth quarters of 2003,
• PCP was involved in 4,581 of all
DAWN estimates 627,923 drug-related
drug-related ED visits.
ED visits nationwide. Overall, drug-related
• MDMA (Ecstasy) was involved in
ED visits averaged 1.7 drugs per visit,
2,221 visits.
including illicit drugs and inhalants,
April 2005
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• Nonpharmaceutical inhalants were
The specific drugs most commonly associ-
involved in 1,681.
ated with drug misuse- or abuse-related
• GHB was involved in 990.
ED visits included:
• Miscellaneous hallucinogens were
• Cocaine — 28 percent of visits
involved in 684.
• Alcohol — 26 percent
• LSD was involved in 656.
• Marijuana — 20 percent
• Ketamine was involved in 73.
• Heroin — 10 percent
DAWN estimates 332,046 visits related to
• Major stimulants (amphetamines/
“drug misuse or abuse” in quarters three
methamphetamine) — 10 percent
and four of 2003. More than half (54
• Benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety
percent) of these visits involved multiple
medications), nonmedical use —
drugs, and alcohol or an illicit drug was
17 percent
involved in nearly two-thirds (65 percent).
• Opiates/opioid analgesics
(pain relievers) — 17 percent
*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of
Applied Studies. Drug Abuse Warning Network 2003: Interim National Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Department
Visits. December 2004.
Note: The latest DAWN data is estimated to be available in late spring, 2008; this fact sheet will
be updated at that time.
National Institutes of Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
This material may be used or reproduced without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated.
April 2005
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