Outcome of Trauma Patients After Brief Intervention by a Substance Abuse Consultation Service

Abstract

The Substance Abuse Consultation Service (SACS) at the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) conducts assessments and brief interventions for patients at the University Hospital and the Shock Trauma Center of the UMMS. This project examined a 10-week sample of trauma patients (N = 30) seen by the SACS, for whom consultations and recommendations (including participation in formal treatment programs as well as 12-step meetings) were provided. The authors used medical record reviews for background information and telephone interviews for follow-up. Of 22 subjects reached by telephone, 6 reported that they had followed the SACS recommendations completely or partially, and 16 subjects reported they had not. Of the latter group, a majority reported self-imposed abstinence or decreased use. No relationships existed between demographic characteristics or patterns of substance abuse and whether or not subjects acted upon SACS recommendations.

What General Psychiatrists Ask Addiction Psychiatrists: A Review of 381 Substance Abuse Consultations in a Psychiatric Hospital

“…This was meant to help motivate the patient to engage in SUD treatment. Brief interventions have been noted to be helpful in motivating patients to obtain treatment for their SUDs in a number of settings, including several medical/surgical trauma services 34,36,42 and general medical inpatient services. 43 Several clinical characteristics of the patients for whom consultations were requested are particularly notable.…”

“…33^35 For example, several studies describe substance abuse consultation services in large academic medical centers 4,33,35 as well as the results of a substance abuse consultation service's interventions in a medical/surgical trauma center. 36 We have been interested in the ways a substance abuse consultation service can enhance the clinical work being provided by general psychiatrists treating patients in inpatient and day treatment psychiatric services settings. We have previously described the Substance Abuse Consultation Service (SACS) of the McLean Hospital Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Program 11 and the relationship of its services to the inpatient psychiatry units of a large private psychiatric hospital.…”

Substance Use and Facial Injury

“…Recognizing both the need and the opportunity, the American College of Surgeons have mandated alcohol screening among admitted trauma patients, for level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Since there is increasing evidence of the effectiveness of relatively brief substance use interventions-some of which may be feasible even within the time, staffing, and financial constraints typical of busy trauma centers [71][72][73][74][75]-it is critical to change surgeon and surgical nurses' attitudes and behavior toward screening and brief intervention. However several issues need to be answered so that substance use screening, intervention and referrals can become part of the care of patients with facial injuries.…”

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: Future Directions for Screening and Intervention in the Emergency Department

“…A number of studies recommend BIs for illicit drug use; [50][51][52][53][54][55] however, there are few published randomized controlled BI trials with illicit substance users in any clinical setting. Promising treatment results have been shown in studies investigating the effectiveness of BIs among cocaine, heroin, and amphetamine users in non-ED-based settings.…”