Methamphetamine use in patients presenting to emergency departments and psychiatric inpatient facilities: what are the service implications?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:: The aim of this study is to understand better the service implications of patients presenting to an inner city Australian Emergency Department (ED) and Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Service (AIS) with a history of recent crystal methamphetamine use. METHODS:: An audit was taken of all patients with recent crystal methamphetamine use presenting to St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne ED and AIS over the month of September 2017. Recorded information included patient demographics, diagnosis, aggressive episodes, restrictive interventions and other risk incidents. RESULTS:: Methamphetamine was related to 21.7% of AIS admissions. Of these individuals, half were involved in aggression toward..