Year: 1975 Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior, v.16, no.3, (1975), p.315-325 SIEC No: 20020811

Presentation rates for 5 drug-related complaints at admission to the emergency ward of a large metropolitan hospital were analyzed jointly by the patient’s ethnicity & sex to determine the populations at risk for individual complaints. It was found that males are generally at risk for psychiatric & addiction problems, & females for suicide attempts. Spanish patients are significantly at risk for drug-related suicide attempts; blacks & Anglos are at risk for addiction problems; & blacks are at risk for medical problems secondary to drug use. Planning for the treatment of acute & chronic drug problems must take these social factors into account; the tendencies of these target populations to consider the hospital an appropriate care-giving facility can be maximized in program design. (54 refs)