Ethnic and sex Effects on Emergency Ward Utilization for Drug-Related Problems: a Linear Model Analysis
Ladner R~~Page W F~~Lee M L
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)