Rates of PCP-Related Emergency Department Visits Highest in
Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia

Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia reported the highest rates ofPCP-related emergency department (ED) visits of the 21 metropolitan areas that report to the national Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). According to data from the 2002 DAWN, the rates of PCP-related ED visits per 100,000 population were 31 in Washington, D.C., and 25 in Philadelphia, compared to a national average of 3 visits per 100,000 population. PCP-related visits in Philadelphia increased gradually from 1996 to 2000, then increased at a much faster rate from 2000 to 2002. PCP-related visits in Washington, D.C., declined between 1994 and 1998, but have increased every year since then. Between 2001 and 2002, PCP-related ED visits increased 143% in the District (from 13 to 31 visits per 100,000 population). Patients involved in PCP-related ED visits in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia were similar in age (nearly half were between the ages of 18 and 25) and gender (almost three-quarters were male). However, patients involved in PCP-related ED visits in the District were more likely to be black (82% vs. 50% in Philadelphia) and less likely to have their visit involve other drugs (65% vs. more than 80% in Philadelphia).

SOURCES:
Center for Substance Abuse Research – University of Maryland , College Park
A complete list of sources is available at www.cesar.umd.edu.
Adapted by CESAR from the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Trends in PCP-Related Emergency Department Visits,” The DAWN Report, January 2004 (available online at http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/pubs_94_02/shortreports/files/TDR_PCPa.pdf); and OAS, SAMHSA, “Emergency Department Trends from the Drug Abuse Warning Network: Final Estimates, 1995-2002,” 2003 (available online at http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/pubs_94_02/edpubs/2002final/).