ISSN: 2329-6488
Nabil Tabish
Tanzania
Research Article
Cocaine Versus Methamphetamine Users in the Emergency Department: How Do They Differ?
Author(s): John R Richards, Nabil Tabish, Colin G Wang, Connor D Grant, Sheiva Hamidi, Robert W Derlet
John R Richards, Nabil Tabish, Colin G Wang, Connor D Grant, Sheiva Hamidi, Robert W Derlet
Background: Stimulant use disorder is a worldwide problem. Users present to the ED for diverse reasons including trauma, chest and abdominal pain, altered mental status, stroke, suicidality, and skin infection.
Objective: To determine what differences exist between stimulant users.
Methods: We compared Stimulant users presenting to an urban ED Level I trauma center over a 3-month period with toxicology screens positive for cocaine and/or methamphetamine.
Results: Of 718 subjects (465 male, 253 female), 610 (85%) were positive for methamphetamine, 80 (11%) cocaine, and 28 (4%) both. Significant racial differences existed, but not for age, gender, and insurance status. Ethanol co-ingestion was higher for cocaine users, otherwise no significant differences were detected for laboratory values.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-6488.1000264