Acute and Chronic Drug Abuse Emergencies in Metropolitan Toronto

E. M. Sellers Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

J. A. Marshman Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

H. L. Kaplan Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

H. G. Giles Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

B. M. Kapur Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

U. Busto Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

S. M. Macleod Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

C. Stapleton Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

F. Sealey Clinical Institute and Clinical Pharmacology Program Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1; Faculty of Pharmacy Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2S1

show all

Abstract

From 3,548 drug overdose or abuse cases presenting at 21 Metropolitan Toronto hospitals' Emergency departments, data concerning demographic and medical characteristics, investigative and management procedures, drug analysis services, and disposition of patients were collected. Of the 3,548 cases, 2,723 (77%) were acute overdose and 816 (23%) were drug abuse. Drug overdose was more common than drug abuse for both sexes, but was more characteristic of females. The drugs most frequently alleged ingested were benzodiazepines (34%), ethanol (32%), salicylates (16%), and barbiturates (14%). The frequency with which particular classes of drugs are alleged in overdose corresponds closely to the frequency of prescribing these drugs in Ontario.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Order Reprints Request Corporate Permissions

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

Request Academic Permissions

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.

Acute and Chronic Drug Abuse Emergencies in Metropolitan Toronto

Information for

Open access

Opportunities

Help and information

Acute and Chronic Drug Abuse Emergencies in Metropolitan Toronto

Abstract

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Academic Permissions

Related research

To cite this article:

Download citation

Information for

Open access

Opportunities

Help and information

Keep up to date

Your download is now in progress and you may close this window

Login or register to access this feature