Abstract
Injection drug users have high rates of hospital use, however, the specific contribution of injection-related infections to hospitalization has never been determined. After reviewing 92 consecutive admissions of HIV-negative injection drug users to Rhode Island Hospital in 1998, we found that 49% were related to infections and an additional 24% were due to the biological effects of the injected drug. Admissions that were for injection-related infections were significantly more costly than other admissions of injection drug users ($13 958 vs. $7906). We conclude that considerable savings may result from preventative care of this population, including instruction in skin-cleaning techniques.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 117-120 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Complications
- Intravenous drug use
- Services research
- Utilization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)