cannabisnews.com: ER Mentions of Marijuana and Narcotic Painkillers 





ER Mentions of Marijuana and Narcotic Painkillers 
Posted by CN Staff on August 26, 2003 at 09:35:58 PT
Press Release
Source: PRNewswire 
Washington -- The Detroit area had one of the highest rates of mentions of marijuana in drug abuse-related hospital emergency room visits in 2002, according to new estimates from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).Detroit emergency department mentions of marijuana were in the top three of 21 metropolitan areas surveyed by DAWN, with 146 mentions of marijuana per 100,000 population. Nationwide there were 47 mentions of marijuana in hospital emergency departments per 100,000 population in 2002.
Nationally, narcotic pain medications implicated in drug-abuse related emergency room visits rose 20 percent from 2001 to 2002. Emergency department mentions of narcotic pain medications rose from 99,317 in 2001 to 119,185 in 2002. The rise from 2000 to 2002 was 45 percent.Overall, the 2002 DAWN estimates 670,307 drug-abuse-related hospital emergency department visits in the continental United States in 2002, about the same as drug-abuse-related visits in 2001. In DAWN a single drug abuse visit may include multiple drugs as many persons are poly-drug users. On average, each visit involved 1.8 drug "mentions." DAWN measures mentions of specific illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are linked to drug abuse in visits to hospital emergency departments."We must educate the public about the dangers of misuse of prescription medications," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "We must continue to strengthen our prevention programs and build substance abuse treatment capacity so that people don't abuse drugs and tax the medical and economic resources of our emergency departments."The new DAWN data show that emergency department mentions of marijuana increased 24 percent nationally from 2000 to 2002. This is especially noteworthy because in the past marijuana was frequently reported along with other drugs. Now, the number of visits for only marijuana rose 45 percent from 2000 to 2002. Over the same two year-period, emergency department mentions of LSD dropped 78 percent, but mentions of PCP rose 42 percent."This report proves that marijuana is more harmful than many people think," said White House Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters. "The rising levels of marijuana potency that we've seen over the last several years correspond with dramatic increases in people seeking emergency medical care for marijuana-related incidents. But the huge decline in LSD mentions nationally serves as a lesson that when we push back against a drug problem with a balanced supply and demand-reduction strategy, we save lives.""One life corrupted by drug use is one too many. Effective prevention and treatment programs are key to helping reduce the needless waste of health, justice and economic resources that results from abuse of drugs," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie. "We are working with states and local drug treatment providers to build treatment capacity. SAMHSA expects that President Bush's new Access to Recovery program to provide for treatment will be key to those efforts."The Detroit area also had large numbers of prescription medicines, especially narcotic pain medications and anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines), mentioned in hospital emergency department visits related to drug abuse. Detroit emergency rooms had 97 mentions of narcotic pain medications per 100,000 population compared to national estimates of 46 mentions per 100,000 population in 2002. There were 69 mentions of anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines) in Detroit area emergency departments per 100,000 population, as well.Metropolitan Detroit also had a high rate of mentions of alcohol in combination with another drug, with 216 mentions per 100,000 population. This compares to 81 mentions per 100,000 population for the nation as a whole.The DAWN report provides a national picture of mentions of drugs of abuse in emergency rooms, as well as an examination of 21 metropolitan areas. There are more mentions of drugs than visits to emergency rooms since many persons are poly-drug users.The full report is available online at: http://DAWNinfo.samhsa.govSAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The $3.2 billion Agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the Nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationComplete Title: ER Mentions of Marijuana and Narcotic Painkillers Significant In Detroit in 2002Source: PRNewswire Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2003Copyright 2003 PRNewswire Website: http://www.prnewswire.com Contact: http://www.prnewswire.com/news/Related Articles:Teenager Recalls Spell Marijuana Cast Over Herhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17016.shtmlEarly Marijuana Use Linked to Adult Dependence http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13914.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #19 posted by FoM on August 27, 2003 at 10:29:30 PT
News Article from Narco News
Argentina: Decriminalizing Medical MarijuanaARDA and the “Parentella Law”By Luis Gómez, Narco News Andean Bureau ChiefAugust 27, 2003“The Harm Reduction and HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, carried out among drug users in the city of Rosaio, confirmed both the efficiency and the direct benefit that comes from utilizing drug users community health workers,” begins Gustavo Hurtado, secretary of the Harm Reduction Association of Argentina (ARDA, in its Spanish initials). “In Argentina,” he continues, “we have proven that specifically trained drug users can be the best avenue to contact their peers, especially during interventions in communities that society has flung into conditions of extreme poverty and marginality.”Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.narconews.com/Issue31/article856.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 27, 2003 at 10:19:34 PT
News Article from The Radical Party
USA: DAVID BORDEN REFUSES TO SERVE AS MEMBER OF JURY TO OPPOSE THE PROIBITIONIST WAR Washington, 27 August 2003David Borden, member of the Transnational Radical Party and member of the Board of Directors of the International Antiprohibitionist League refuses to serve as member of Jury in the District of Columbia criticizing the injustices of the U.S. war on drugs. Borden motivated his decision in a letter the Honourable Rufus G. King, Chief Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.After being summoned to be a juror in a Washington D.C. Court David Borden, Executive Director of Drug Reform Coordination Network -- http://www.stopthedrugwar.org -- refused on 22 August to appear before the Court linking its decision to the injustices committed by the U.S. "war on drugs". Snipped: 
 
 Complete Article: http://coranet.radicalparty.org/pressreleases/press_release.php?func=detail&par=6016
DRCNet
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by RevHappy on August 26, 2003 at 17:16:37 PT:
Points
What struck me as funny is their figures. Why are they all not presented in the same way. For marijuana, It is per 100,000, for prescriptions, it is in total, LSD is just in percent, and there is no alcohol.And it does not describe the concept of "reporting". Is that still people who are forced or secretly drug tested at the hospital.Why even go anymore?
Prohibition is a Burka
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by Lehder on August 26, 2003 at 16:43:17 PT
Best wishes, Petard
sign i saw in texas: everyone's got to believe in something. i believe i'll have a beer.you can't escape them.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by Petard on August 26, 2003 at 14:39:36 PT
Lehder, I do challenge
and also push the Profs and find they really are accepting of that. There are a few that either only want to conduct research, or just show up for the paycheck, but the vast majority do it out of love and respect for learning and the educational process, as well as the betterment of society. Every class I'm taking is required, not only by the curriculum, but will be required in the actual process of my chosen profession. Trust me, nobody will know the material better or more thoroughly. It's just nice to know that if things pile up I can skimp a little temporarily (and catch it later) without any effect on the grade. One of my favorite responses to the statements that contain "I believe" is: Believe in one hand, defecate in the other, then tell me which one has substance in it. One can believe anything they choose, that belief does not make it right, factual, or even credible. The Son-of-Sam believed he was doing the right thing, Charles Manson acted on his beliefs, many people have crashed their vehicles in belief of something that wasn't reality. Truth is not a belief. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by Lehder on August 26, 2003 at 13:45:32 PT
Leslie
ignorance truly is strength. they are stronger than we. it's not a silly or amusing expression.the principal function of schools and television is in achieving that 70%.i'm really put off how politicians are constantly saying "I BELIEVE...whatever". they say this in a tone and manner that, so it sounds to me, their assertion is to be all the more credible because it is based on their Belief. I think it would be less persuasive in public speaking in the U.S. ("America") to inform that, for example, " We derived from fundamental principle..." or "We computed from established theory..." "We reasoned from data and logic that..."In a nation of religious zealots, a faith-based nation, i imagine that the prefix "I believe" elicits a very positive response (Ah, a man of faith - let's listen to him), while reliance on intermediate steps such as Reason, Logic, or Calculation first of all suggests a personal deficiency - a lack of faith - and, second, introduces extraneous steps that are fraught with every opportunity for error or self deception. i Belive that the better politicians and their handlers are well aware of these tendencies and expertly exploit them; Clinton comes to mind immediately. i do not know how to speed read. i like to plod along. i also would never use a highlighter.i hope that a bright guy like you will be more demanding of his classes and require that they provide you with new and powerful methods that are of interest and use to you, and that you will take time to understand things in depth. most of your professors are very smart, if not thekids in your class, and you should, while working hard, REQUIRE that theymake you truly understand anything related to the class that you do not. i am proud that the kids i taught as a grad student did very well; but, i should have married Leslie.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by cloud7 on August 26, 2003 at 13:17:32 PT
huh?
"But the huge decline in LSD mentions nationally serves as a lesson that when we push back against a drug problem with a balanced supply and demand-reduction strategy, we save lives."1st no one has overdosed on pure LSD so what lives have been saved? With the severe penalties for this drug, no doubt more lives are destroyed by pushing back against this "drug problem." 2nd and more importantly, while all drugs tend to fall in and out of fashion, LSD is more closely related to this cyclical relationship of popularity than cannabis, whose popularity remains relatively constant. In a few years Im sure there will be an "LSD crises" with mentions of LSD up 78%.Finally, they've been pushing "back against a drug problem with a balanced supply and demand-reduction strategy" for years against cannabis and now a third of the US population has used it. Of course, Im sure the victory in this war is just around the corner. Right guys? Right...?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Petard on August 26, 2003 at 12:58:14 PT
ignorance is inherent
And also encouraged by the dumbing down of the educational system in the USSA. One thing about starting back to college tomorrow that I'm looking forward to is the easy A's in the large undergrad classes that utilize a grading curve. Makes studying so much easier for a speed reader with excellent comprehension and retention, like myself. The youth of the USSA are a lost and confused bunch. They've got good memories, can read and regurgitate facts quickly. They cannot however use reason and logic or solve problems. They can do tab A into slot B, but they can't make the template or design the forms used to create tab A or slot B in the first place. And these are the college students, I can't imagine how ill prepared for life the HS dropouts are.So of course, propaganda, sound bites, and speaking in absolutes on subjective matters, are swallowed hook, line, and stinking mess that it is. Knowledge is power, leaving the youth of today mainly powerless. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by Lehder on August 26, 2003 at 12:30:01 PT
scientific american, 9/02, pg 35
"rarely does anyone weigh facts before deciding what to believe.""70 percent of americans still do not understand the scientific process, defined in the study as comprehending probability, the experimental method and hypothesis testing."with this population as raw material, and with sound bytes as the main source of information for a big majority of the population, propaganda is very effective. and a big part of the remaining 30% are willing to be bought off or are under economic pressure to conform. i know a girl who says that she feigns stupidity in order to communicate with people.i read elsewhere today how it's characteristic of the religious right to reason exclusively in absolutes, making them great at campaigns and impossible to negotiate with.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Petard on August 26, 2003 at 11:40:43 PT
Lehder
You caught that huh? I just have to wonder about your source for the 70% figure you stated. LOL.I just applied the prohibitionist style to another common, ordinary, and naturally occurring substance that many people know of. The same thing can be accomplished substituting almost anything in use by mankind. Hell, more people are killed by screwdrivers or hammers in a week than have ever died from mj. Oh, maybe we should have a WOT, a War on Tools?Rhetoric and infammatory statements obviously can and are misused by the prohibs. Some folks kinda keep cows in a closet of sorts, it's called veal ranching. But I have to admit, I would NOT try stuffing a cow down my pants in an attempt to shoplift for my own supply of cheese, the crack of milk. I'd hate to have to try to swallow a cow in a balloon to get through customs too. Although eating the evidence if the cops showed up in a raid and search for cows could be rather enjoyable, ribs, t-bones, brisket, etc..BTW, support my bid for becoming the Nations first Milk Czar, would ya? LMAO.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Lehder on August 26, 2003 at 11:23:20 PT
it's not easy
to conceal a cow. What kind of a person would keep a cow in his closet anyway?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Lehder on August 26, 2003 at 11:17:04 PT
careful there, Petard
more than 70% of Americans are incompetent to reason with statistics or comprehend causal relationships. I like milk. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by Petard on August 26, 2003 at 10:54:31 PT
Milk Mentions
How many ER visits reported milk consumption? How many reported milk products? We must surely ban and prohibit and incarcerate and confiscate the assets of these heinous milk dealers/users. Milk is a gateway substance, statistics on prison inmates indicate that over 90% began consumption of consumables with milk. Some use milk for nutrition but many others consume milk merely for pleasure. Science has proven milk and it's active ingredients, as well as the way the human body processes it, affect growth, development, and retention of bone, teeth, and other tissues. Milk use leads to use of all other consumables. Stop milk now, think of the children!!! Milk is available in all our schools despite all our new and latest and greatest security measures, even high incidences are reported of daily use in our elementary schools. Pre-school children are reported to have already begun use of this product. Start the WOM, War on Milk!!! Cheese, the potent and more compact and dense form of milk is even worse, it's the crack of milk! Billions of dollars are spent in the pursuit of milk and cheese, with users sometimes driving whole blocks away to high milk trafficking neighborhoods to seek it's evil pleasures. Ethnic minoriies use milk to seduce our non-rthnic majority women and violent crimes are committed by users of milk. I once drank milk and ate cheese, the crack of milk, and turned into a bat. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Dark Star on August 26, 2003 at 10:30:58 PT
Lies
This is nothing but propaganda.A "mention" means that the person agreed that they had used marijuana at some point, irrespective of the reason they are there. If someone develops appendicitis, it wasn't caused by marijuana, but the Feds will count it anyway to compile their phony stats.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by WolfgangWylde on August 26, 2003 at 10:30:27 PT
Marijuana actually being the cause of an ER visit
...marijuana-only mentions were only 24 percent of all marijuana mentions, roughly one quarter of one tenth of one percent of all emergency room visits.
 
 Top Story: Cannabis Prohibition Prostitutes Science In New Emergency Dept. Data
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 26, 2003 at 10:22:16 PT
How Many People Went To Hospital Because of MJ
I want to know how they come up with these stats. If a person gets caught with marijuana they could easily get very scared and then when they take them to the hospital they say is was because of smoking marijuana when in reality it is fear of being arrested. That's my opinion.How many people went to the hospital on their own because marijuana made them have problems? That is the only stats that should be allowed.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on August 26, 2003 at 10:18:18 PT:
SO THEY SAY
I have had occasion to ask Emergency Medical Technicians whether they have EVER had emergencies of individuals who had smoked pot without any other drugs involved. One EMT told me about a year and a half ago while we were seated at the UCLA Medical School Library that he has had many emergency calls from pot use alone. However, in all honesty, the other EMTs I have asked told me they have not had emergency calls from pot smoking alone! Dr. Lester Grinspoon emphasized that we must make sure other drugs were not involved before we blame Cannabis, in his book entitled Marihuana Reconsidered, c. 1971, Harvard University Press.The primary reasons for the laws against Cannabis are business interests of the politicans the people are electing. I would encourage people to read the Web article entitled Shadow of the Swastika, www.sumeria.net/politics/shadv3.html, prior to demonizing the plant. By the way, while on the subject of politics, I would like ALL READERS to read the Web article entitled IRAQI COMMANDER SWEARS HE SAW USAF FLY SADDAM OUT OF BAGHDAD, by Bill Dash, posted August 14, 2003, www.100megsfree4.com/farshores/sc03bd.htm, then print out the three page article, then send it to your Congress members and friends, and vote for Green Party and Libertarian Party candidates on Election Day. Please visit www.fromthewilderness.com for more information on proof that BUSH KNEW, of which a dialectical thinker would reasonably conclude that the September 11, 2001, incidents were state-sponsored terrorism. See also: www.expertwitnessradio.org. I'm reading a book now I would encourage everybody to read on the history of our not so fine federal government: The Bureau: The Secret History of the FBI. I recently shelled out $18.63 for the deck of playing cards of the 52 Most Dangerous Liberals in America, from www.conservativebookservice.com. I have not purchased the deck of playing cards of the Iraq "enemies." NORML of New Jersey is looking for people with three particular medical conditions to file a lawsuit to enforce a little used law permitting medical marijuana research in New Jersey. Visit www.normlnj.org, for more information.Richard Paul Zuckerman, Box 159, Metuchen, N.J., 08840-0159, richardzuckerman2002 yahoo.com.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 26, 2003 at 10:05:59 PT
Sam
I know what you mean.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on August 26, 2003 at 10:04:15 PT
that's pretty funny
When I saw the headline, I thought they were talking about using cannabis to treat people's pain in the ER.But no, I should have known better. Here in Orwellian America, the only use for cannabis is to test peoples' blood and urine to enable the pigs to take their kids away.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment