The prevalence of cannabis abuse in trauma patients presenting to the University Hospital of the West Indies

ABSTRACT

During a three-month period patients aged 16 years and over, admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) via the emergency room, were screened for the metabolites of cannabis in the urine. Forty-six per cent were positive for cannabis. Patients testing positive were significantly younger than those who tested negative (p<0.001), the mean ages (95 percent confidence interval CF) being 28 (25-30) years and 35 (29-39) years, respectively. Patients were placed into one of three groups depending on whether they were victims of motor vehicle accidents, interpersonal violence or "other accidents". The prevalence of cannabis abuse was significantly less in the "other accidents" group compared with victims of motor vehicle accidents and interpersonal violence. Fifty per cent of the road traffic accident victims (95 percent CI, 35-52 percent), 55 per cent due to interpersonal violence (95 percent CI, 39-69 percent) and 16 per cent of the "other accidents" group (95 percent CI, 4-38 percent) tested positive for cannabis. There was no significant difference in hospital stay (HS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS) or Injury Severity Score (ISS) between cannabis abusers and nonusers. We conclude that there is a high incidence of cannabis abuse among trauma victims in Jamaica and postulate that it may play an important role in the aetiology of motor vehicle accidents and interpersonal violence (AU)