Emergency consultation by children and adolescents due to psychoactive substance abuse

Abstract

This study is the first survey of emergency consultations resulting from alcohol and drug abuse in age groups 10-14 and 15-19 years, carried out in the city of Córdoba. The inquiry was conducted in emergency care units at public institutions. The questionnaire submitted to the physicians in charge was based on the one prepared by researchers belonging to the Argentine Council for Scientific and Technical Research used in the Psychiatric Epidemiology Project. The questionnaire was adapted for this study in cooperation with the professionals in charge of each hospital´s administration. The inquiry was conducted in a period of nine days, which included two weekends in the month of June, simultaneously for both age groups (n = 281). Conclusions: for the target population of this study – adolescents between age 10 and 19 – the prevalent reasons for emergency admission due to psychoactive substance abuse were road accidents, suicide attempts, and violent situations, showing that there are no age groups free from problems caused by psychoactive substances.