TY - JOUR
T1 - Cannabis presentations to the emergency department after MVC in the era of legalization for recreational use
AU - Choo, Esther K.
AU - Nishijima, Daniel
AU - Trent, Stacy
AU - Eichelberger, Angela
AU - Ye, Yu
AU - Audett, Ariane
AU - Brasel, Karen
AU - Kazmierczak, Steve
AU - Cherpitel, Cheryl J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2022/2
Y1 - 2022/2
N2 - Introduction: The objectives of this study were to examine cannabis and alcohol use among injured patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) in cannabis-legal states to capture an expanded profile of cannabis use and evaluate differences in motor-vehicle collision (MVC) characteristics among those using cannabis alone and in combination with alcohol. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of ED visits by drivers in MVC who presented to one of three study sites. Event-related and usual drug and alcohol use information were obtained using a detailed interviewer-administered computerized questionnaire. We also obtained data from blood and breathalyzer tests and the electronic medical record. We examined frequency and types of acute and past-year cannabis and alcohol use and crash mechanisms and characteristics. Our primary method of determining substance use was self-report; we used biosamples secondarily. Results: Eight percent of drivers reported cannabis use in the 8 h prior to MVC, alone or in combination with alcohol; however, a higher proportion (18%) were positive by biosample. High-risk crash features were common in MVCs associated with cannabis, as they were for alcohol use and co-use of cannabis and alcohol; however, patients injured seriously enough to require admission were less likely to report cannabis use (7% vs. 9%) and more likely to report alcohol use (16% vs. 10%). Conclusions: Cannabis use was common among patients presenting after MVC in this sample of cannabis-legal states. Practical Applications: Differences between self-report and biosample data for cannabis and alcohol use were significant and supports the need to use both means of assessing acute use.
AB - Introduction: The objectives of this study were to examine cannabis and alcohol use among injured patients presenting to emergency departments (ED) in cannabis-legal states to capture an expanded profile of cannabis use and evaluate differences in motor-vehicle collision (MVC) characteristics among those using cannabis alone and in combination with alcohol. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of ED visits by drivers in MVC who presented to one of three study sites. Event-related and usual drug and alcohol use information were obtained using a detailed interviewer-administered computerized questionnaire. We also obtained data from blood and breathalyzer tests and the electronic medical record. We examined frequency and types of acute and past-year cannabis and alcohol use and crash mechanisms and characteristics. Our primary method of determining substance use was self-report; we used biosamples secondarily. Results: Eight percent of drivers reported cannabis use in the 8 h prior to MVC, alone or in combination with alcohol; however, a higher proportion (18%) were positive by biosample. High-risk crash features were common in MVCs associated with cannabis, as they were for alcohol use and co-use of cannabis and alcohol; however, patients injured seriously enough to require admission were less likely to report cannabis use (7% vs. 9%) and more likely to report alcohol use (16% vs. 10%). Conclusions: Cannabis use was common among patients presenting after MVC in this sample of cannabis-legal states. Practical Applications: Differences between self-report and biosample data for cannabis and alcohol use were significant and supports the need to use both means of assessing acute use.
KW - Alcohol
KW - Cannabis
KW - Emergency care
KW - Motor vehicle collisions
KW - Substance use disorders
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.12.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jsr.2021.12.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 35249614
AN - SCOPUS:85124414775
SN - 0022-4375
VL - 80
SP - 341
EP - 348
JO - Journal of Safety Research
JF - Journal of Safety Research
ER -