@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol and other drugs: an assessment of testing and clinical practices in u.s. trauma centers",
journal="Journal of trauma",
year="1994",
author="Kerns, Timothy J. and Dailey, J. T. and Soderstrom, Carl A.",
volume="36",
number="1",
pages="68-73",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: The American College of Surgeons' (ACS) Committee on Trauma recommends drug and alcohol screening as &quot;essential&quot; for level I and II or &quot;desirable&quot; for level III trauma centers. METHODS: Trauma centers were surveyed concerning alcohol and other drug testing policies and clinical practices during fiscal year 1989. RESULTS: Surveys were returned from 125 level I, 153 level II, and 38 other centers (n = 316; 47 states and the District of Columbia). Resources to measure blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) and perform urine drug screens were available in 99.4% and 96.8% of centers, respectively. In 63.7% of level I and level II and 47.4% of other centers, BACs were &quot;routinely&quot; obtained. The 63.7% testing rate for level I and level II centers was not significantly higher than a 55.2% rate for such centers documented in a survey conducted 5 years earlier. In 40.0% of level I and level II and 26.3% of other centers, drug screens were obtained routinely. The higher overall BAC testing policy compared with that for other drugs was significant (p < 0.001). Substance abuse counselors were employed at 59.3% of the trauma centers, a rate significantly higher than the 31.8% rate identified in a previous survey (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite available resources and repeated ACS recommendations, measurements of BACs and drug screens are routine in only 63.7% of level I and 40.0% of level II trauma centers.",
language="",
issn="0022-5282",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}