Drug an ALcohol Related Intoxication Among Young Adolecents in Palestine

Backgroung: This study was conducted as an initiative from the Anti - Narcotics department in cooperation with the Hospitals' General Directorate at the Palestinian Ministry of Health after the approval of her excellency the Minister of Health , and the Health information Center and the National public institut were informed and breifed about the study.

The EURO - DEN PLUS data collection tool (v6 202 11123) was in this study, all remarks were discussed and adjusted to enssure that the tool is compitable with the emergency room treatment protocols in the Palestinaina hospitals.

Methods: 8 Palestinian hospitals were selected randomly from 5 Palestinain districts in the West Bank (5 public & 3 private) , data collection were taken from the period of May 2023 - October 2023, the target group were adolecents aged from 13-29 years.

Results: 

• The most common intoxications were due to  alcohol, and synthetic drugs misuse.
• The number of male adolecents was more than female.
• The most common causes of death were RTA cuaused by alcohol misuse, heroin and cocain overdose.
• 54% of the patients were brought by ambulance , 28% brought by friends, 14% self presentation , while 4% brought by family members.
• The most clinical presentation were RTA, Chest Pain , Anxiety , and sudden loss of cosciousness.
• The common prosedures in the ER were gastric lavage, intubation, Naloxone & Flumanizine treatemnt.
• Regarding the prognosis, 51% discharged from the ER, 25% admitted to hospital, 10% referred to Mental hospital, 4% died 4% admitted to ICU, and 6% referred to SUD treatment centers

Conclusion: 

• There are many challenged and needs facing the alcohol and drug related intoxication services including treatment.
• The study showed that there is a wide spread of alcohol and drugs among adolecents , and the drug pose a theat on their lives.
• The study showed that the number of young female using drugs is increasing and the majority of them are using pharmecutical drugs.
• It also gave an impression about the lack of awarness among the youth regarding alcohol and drug use harms and complications.
• Absence of the referring system from the ER and hopspitals to the Alcohol and drug misuse treatment centers.
• Absence of any specefic alcohol and drug related emergencies treatment protocols inside the Emergency rooms in the hospitals.
• It also provided an insite to the capacity building needs for the medical teams who work in the emergency room, and they shuold be trained on the international updated treatment protocols  for drug and alcohol - realted emergency cases