Abstract

Cases of intoxication are among the common medical emergencies. Cases of suicidal drug intoxication are more common among young people. Based on this information, our study aimed to identify the demographic and etiological characteristics of cases of drug intoxication and their costs to the social security institution. The files of patients diagnosed with drug intoxication in the adult emergency department of Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty Hospital between 01.01.2022 and 31.12.2022 were reviewed retrospectively from the automation system. In our study, the data of 110 patients admitted to the emergency department with a clinical picture of drug-related intoxication were evaluated. 75.5% of the patients were female and 40% of them were in the 18-24 age group. It was determined that 92.7% of the patients took the drug that caused intoxication for suicidal purposes and that psychiatric agents constituted a significant part of the drugs taken. Treatment costs increased significantly in cases of suicidal drug intake and multiple drug intake. The length of hospital stay and the cost of treatment increased as the time between the time of drug intake and the hospital arrival time increased. Most of the drug-related intoxications occurred due to suicidal intake. Most of the drugs used for this purpose were analgesics and psychiatric drugs. Emergency departments are the first places where patients with drug intoxication are evaluated, and all physicians working in the emergency department should know the approach to intoxication very well.

Key words: Emergency department, drug intoxication, cost