Alcohol and drug use in orthopaedic inpatients

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Abstract
A series of 109 adult orthopaedic inpatients was interviewed about alcohol and other drug use and alcohol‐related problems in general in the week preceding admission to hospital. The most frequently used drugs were alcohol (reported by 75%), tobacco (53%), analgesics (28%) and cannabis (15%). Alcohol was used hazardously by 28% of patients. More patients scored as problem drinkers on the Trauma Scale (52%) than the Brief MAST (7%). The detection of alcohol‐related problems at an early stage is important. It is suggested that trauma victims in hospital be routinely screened for this.