ED patients who used cocaine with cannabis had higher 3-year mortality than other patients
A study of 1,669 emergency department patients found that use of cocaine and cannabis, both individually and in combination, was associated with significantly higher 36-month mortality risk compared to other ED patients.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers surveyed 1,669 patients from two urban emergency departments and tracked mortality over 36 months using the National Death Index.
The use of cocaine and cannabis, both individually and in combination, was associated with significantly higher mortality risk compared to other ED patients after controlling for demographics.
This mortality risk was present whether cocaine and cannabis were used separately or together, suggesting that both substances independently contribute to elevated risk in this population.
The authors noted that further research was needed to determine whether these results were stable across racial and ethnic groups.
Key Numbers
1,669 ED patients surveyed. 36-month follow-up (2009-2012). Cocaine and cannabis use, individually and combined, associated with significantly higher mortality. Used ASSIST screening tool for risk categorization.
How They Did This
Prospective cohort of 1,669 patients from 2 urban EDs surveyed using the ASSIST screening tool. 36-month mortality data obtained from the National Death Index (2009-2012). Cox regression modeled mortality by drug risk groups, controlling for demographics.
Why This Research Matters
Emergency department patients who use substances represent a high-risk population. Quantifying the mortality risk associated with specific substance use patterns helps prioritize intervention efforts and informs clinical decision-making during ED visits.
The Bigger Picture
This study provides mortality data for a real-world clinical population. The finding that cannabis use is associated with elevated mortality in ED patients, independent of cocaine, adds to the limited literature on cannabis-related mortality risk in high-risk populations.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
ED patients are not representative of the general population. Mortality associations do not establish causation; substance users may have other risk factors driving mortality. The study could not fully separate the effects of polysubstance use. Specific causes of death were not detailed. Relatively small sample for mortality outcomes.
Questions This Raises
- ?What are the primary causes of death among substance-using ED patients?
- ?Does the mortality risk differ by frequency and amount of cannabis or cocaine use?
- ?Would substance use intervention in the ED reduce subsequent mortality?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cocaine and cannabis use each independently associated with higher 36-month mortality
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective cohort with mortality tracking provides moderate evidence, limited by inability to establish causation and potential confounding from other risk factors.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2018 with 2009-2012 mortality data. Substance use patterns in ED populations have continued to evolve.
- Original Title:
- Mortality risk in a sample of emergency department patients who use cocaine with alcohol and/or cannabis.
- Published In:
- Substance abuse, 39(3), 266-270 (2018)
- Authors:
- Gilmore, Devin, Zorland, Jennifer, Akin, Joanna, Johnson, J Aaron, Emshoff, James G, Kuperminc, Gabriel P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01662
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does using cannabis increase mortality risk?
In this study of ED patients, cannabis use was associated with higher 36-month mortality. However, ED patients who use substances may have many other risk factors contributing to mortality, and this association does not prove cannabis itself caused the increased risk.
Is combining cannabis and cocaine more dangerous?
Both cannabis and cocaine individually were associated with higher mortality in this ED population. The combination was also associated with higher risk, but the study found each substance contributed independently rather than synergistically.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01662APA
Gilmore, Devin; Zorland, Jennifer; Akin, Joanna; Johnson, J Aaron; Emshoff, James G; Kuperminc, Gabriel P. (2018). Mortality risk in a sample of emergency department patients who use cocaine with alcohol and/or cannabis.. Substance abuse, 39(3), 266-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2017.1389799
MLA
Gilmore, Devin, et al. "Mortality risk in a sample of emergency department patients who use cocaine with alcohol and/or cannabis.." Substance abuse, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897077.2017.1389799
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Mortality risk in a sample of emergency department patients ..." RTHC-01662. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gilmore-2018-mortality-risk-in-a
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.