Half of psychiatric admissions have a drug problem

Half of those admitted to a major psychiatric unit have a substance misuse problem, new research suggests.

Specialists at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork examined the clinical notes of 100 people admitted to the hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit.

The report said the results of the research were "clinically significant" and could reflect the prevalence of substance misuse in psychiatric inpatient units across the country.

The research sample of 100 patients included 52 men and 48 women, with ages ranging from 17 to 76 (71% below the age of 45).

Some 85% of admissions were voluntary and 15% were involuntary.

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Source: Cormac O’Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 06/12/2011