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May 10, 2006
 Drug Abuse Warning Network, 2004:
National Estimates of Drug-Related
Emergency Department Visits
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) is a public health
surveillance system that monitors drug-related visits to hospital
emergency departments and drug-related deaths investigated by
medical examiners and coroners. The DAWN 2004 survey has been
updated to include a nationwide sample of reporting hospitals, and
expands the definition of emergency department visits.
In 2004, there were nearly two million drug related emergency
department visits. Of those, 65% were due to drug abuse or misuse.
Of the total 1.3 million due to drug abuse or misuse:
- 30% were for illegal drugs
- 25% were for prescriptions or
over-the-counter medications
- Eight percent were for underage
alcohol use
- 15% involved combinations of
illegal drugs and alcohol
- Eight percent involved illegal
drugs and legal or prescribed pharmaceuticals
- 14% involved illegal drugs,
alcohol, and legal pharmaceuticals
The illegal drugs implicated most often were:
- 30% cocaine
- 16.5% marijuana
- 12% heroin
- Eight percent of admissions were
for stimulants including amphetamines and methamphetamines
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