On a global scale, emergency departments have been providing critical access to the health care system for many years, however, more recently visits to the emergency department has been an opportunity to identify patients with substance use disorders. Screening patients for illicit drugs and drug abuse has become increasingly more regular when a patient is admitted to the emergency department. Screening is vital to treat a patient with effective treatment. Nearly half of all emergency department visits in the US are categorized as relating to substance use disorders.

In a study completed at Ghent University Hospital in 2017  it was found that the most frequently reported drugs abused by emergency department patients are cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, and opiates. It is important to screen patients in the emergency department if the patient is showing signs of confusion, deliriousness, unconsciousness, panic attacks, chest pain, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or seizures as these symptoms usually indicate drug intoxication or overdose.

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