A 3-Year Comparison of Overdoses Treated in a Military Emergency Department—Complications, Admission Rates, and Health Care Resources Consumed

Abstract

Drug overdose has become a leading cause of death in the United States and is a growing issue in civilian and military populations. Increasing prescription drug misuse and poisonings translate into greater utilization of medical resources. Our objective was to describe the incidences of overdoses and their associated events and outcomes following emergency department consult. We performed a retrospective cohort study on cases evaluated in 2 military hospital emergency departments over 3 years. Subjects were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes 960-970. Variables collected included demographics, military service, method of arrival, vital signs, clinical complications, and hospital admission, if overdose was documented as intentional or unintentional and drug ingested. Over 3 years, 342 overdoses were treated. Mean age was 35 ± 19 and gender was 53% female. 47% were active duty and 32% were dependents. 21% of overdoses involved benzodiazepines and 20% opioids. Active duty and benzodiazepine overdoses were more likely to arrive by ambulance (p = 0.0006, p = 0.03), were more likely to have overdosed intentionally (p = 0.02, p = 0.009), and were more likely to be admitted (p = 0.04, p = 0.007). Active duty had a longer length of stay (p = 0.02). Overdoses involving the active duty population and benzodiazepines consume greater military health care resources than other overdoses.