Study Tracks Teen Drug Use in ER
A study tracked teen admissions into an emergency room and drug tests administered to them. Even though all 443 patients tracked were supposed to be tested, only 193 actually were. Of those 193, 40% tested positive with 29% having opiates, 11% having alcohol, and 20% positive for marijuana. The authors of the study conclude that drug tests should be routinely performed and used to identify candidates for treatment after hospitalization rather than have the tests used only to determine appropriate medical care at the time of the visit.