Highlights From DAWN: New Orleans, 2002

This special report presents findings based on data
submitted by 12 hospitals in the New Orleans
metropolitan area for 2002.
■ Of the approximately 650,000 visits to New
Orleans area emergency departments (EDs) in
2002, less than 1 percent (4,566) were attributed
to drug abuse.
■ During 2002, the most common drugs involved
in these ED visits were cocaine, alcohol in
combination with other drugs, narcotic analgesics
(pain relievers), benzodiazepines, and marijuana.
■ Between 1995 and 2002, ED mentions of pain
relievers in New Orleans increased 141 percent
(from 41 to 98 mentions per 100,000 population).
■ Among the 21 DAWN areas, New Orleans ranked
in the top 5 in drug abuse-related ED visits
involving pain relievers and benzodiazepines.