The Association Between Drug Related Deaths and Prior Contact with Hospital-Based Services

Abstract

Reducing drug related deaths has been identified as a health priority by the Scottish Executive.

Aims

This study investigates the association between drug related deaths in the Lothian region and prior contact with hospital-based services in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Design/Setting

Retrospective analysis of 90 drug related deaths in Lothian from 2003-2005. Hospital episodes within five years of death were identified by searching the electronic patient record system within the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Findings

Seventy-five of the 90 drug related deaths occurred in the hospital catchment area. Forty five of these 75 deaths (60%) occurred in patients who had used hospital-based services in the previous five years. The median time from hospital contact to deaths was five months and median number of hospital attendances/admissions was three (range 1 – 26).

Conclusion

Liaison between emergency departments, clinical toxicology services and community based drug addiction services is important to identify drug misusers at high risk. A hospital-based specialist nurse-led liaison service may be able to fulfil this role.