[Involvement of addictovigilance in emergency department for the detection of abuse and dependence cases: 3 years of experience]

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the increase of hospitalization at emergency department (ED) related to psychoactive substances use (PSU), the addictovigilance center of Montpellier has been integrated into the URGEIM program for the detection of iatrogenic events at the ED. The objective of the present work was to analyze spontaneous reports (SR) collected via the URGEIM program.

Methods: Analysis of spontaneous reports related to PSU at the ED of the Montpellier University Hospital, collected through the URGEIM program, between January 2014 and December 2016.

Results: During the study period, 160 SR were collected through the URGEIM program on 1118 SR collected by the Addictovigilance center over the period: 40SR/342 in 2014, 46 SR/303 in 2015 and 74 SR/473 in 2016. Most patients were male (70%) and the mean age at admission was 33 years old. A total of 240 psychoactive substances were identified with 160 illicit substances (66.6%) [cocaine 38.1%, cannabis 30.6%] and 80 medications (33.3%) [buprenorphine 22.5%, benzodiazepines 20% and methadone 18.8%]. Mental and behavioral disorders (20.0%), general health problems associated with substance use (17.5%), cardiovascular diseases (13.1%) and infectious diseases (12.5%) were the main reported effects. The duration of emergency stay was inferior to 12hours in 63.1% of cases and greater than 24hours in 12.5% of cases. In 69.4% of cases, the event was considered as serious. The outcome was unknown for 6.9% of patients.

Conclusion: The number of SR from ED has increased over the study period, with the notification of serious and worrying cases, and the possibility of setting up actions. The deployment of addictovigilance within clinical services is a significant factor for notification and quality of care.

Keywords: Addictovigilance; Drugs; Emergency department; Illicit substance; Médicaments; Service d’urgences adulte; Substance use disorders; Substances illicites; Trouble lié à l’usage de substance.