Richards J R, Bretz S W, Johnson E B, Turnipseed S D, Brofeldt B T, Derlet R W
Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, USA.
West J Med. 1999 Apr;170(4):198-202.
Methamphetamine (MAP) abuse continues to increase worldwide, based on morbidity, mortality, drug treatment, and epidemiologic studies and surveys. MAP abuse has become a significant health care, environmental, and law enforcement problem. Acute intoxication often results in agitation, violence, and death. Chronic use may lead to infection, heart failure, malnutrition, and permanent psychiatric illness. MAP users frequently use the emergency department (ED) for their medical care. Over a 6-month period we studied the demographics, type, and frequency of medical and traumatic problems in 461 MAP patients presenting to our ED, which serves an area noted for high levels of MAP production and consumption. Comparison was made to the general ED population to assess use patterns. MAP patients were most commonly Caucasian males who lacked health insurance. Compared to other ED patients during this time, MAP patients used ambulance transport more and were more likely to be admitted to the hospital. There was a significant association between trauma and MAP use in this patient population. Our data suggest MAP users utilize prehospital and hospital resources at levels higher than the average ED population. Based on current trends, we can expect more ED visits by MAP users in the future.
根据发病率、死亡率、药物治疗以及流行病学研究和调查，甲基苯丙胺（MAP）滥用在全球范围内持续增加。MAP滥用已成为一个重大的医疗保健、环境和执法问题。急性中毒常导致激动、暴力和死亡。长期使用可能会导致感染、心力衰竭、营养不良和永久性精神疾病。MAP使用者经常前往急诊科（ED）就医。在为期6个月的时间里，我们研究了461名前来我院急诊科就诊的MAP患者的人口统计学特征、医疗和创伤问题的类型及频率，我院所在地区以MAP的高产量和高消费量而闻名。我们将这些患者与急诊科的普通患者群体进行比较，以评估其使用模式。MAP患者最常见的是没有医疗保险的白人男性。与这段时间内的其他急诊科患者相比，MAP患者更多地使用救护车转运，且更有可能住院。在这一患者群体中，创伤与MAP使用之间存在显著关联。我们的数据表明，MAP使用者利用院前和医院资源的程度高于急诊科普通患者群体。根据当前趋势，我们预计未来会有更多MAP使用者前往急诊科就诊。
