Post-9/11 drug- and alcohol- related hospitalizations among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees, 2003–2010. (1st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hirst, Andrew; Miller-Archie, Sara A.; Welch, Alice E.; Li, Jiehui; Brackbill, Robert M.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 187(2018)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01
• Subjects: World Trade Center -- Longitudinal study -- Drug hospitalization -- Alcohol hospitalization -- Post-traumatic stress disorder; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.01.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Highlights: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increased the odds of alcohol/drug hospitalization among those exposed to 9/11. Witnessing trauma on 9/11 was associated with drug-related hospitalization. In a 9/11 cohort, as hospitalizations per person increased, so did PTSD prevalence. Abstract: Objective: To describe patterns of drug- and alcohol-related hospitalizations among persons exposed to the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks and to assess whether 9/11-related exposures or post-9/11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were associated with increased odds of hospitalization. Methods: Data for adult enrollees in the WTC Health Registry, a prospective cohort study, were linked to New York State (NYS) administrative hospitalization data to identify alcohol- and drug-related hospitalizations from enrollment to December 31, 2010. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between substance use-related hospitalization, 9/11-related exposure and PTSD. Results: Of 41, 176 NYS resident enrollees, we identified 626 (1.5%) who had at least one alcohol- or drug-related hospitalization; 53.4% (n = 591) of these hospitalizations were for alcohol only diagnoses and 46.6% (n = 515) were drug-related. Witnessing ≥3 traumatic events on 9/11 was significantly associated with having a drug-related hospitalization (AOR 1.4, 95% CI = [1.1, 1.9]). PTSD was significantly associated with both having a drug-related hospitalization as well as an alcohol only-related hospitalization. (AOR 2.6, 95% CI = [2.0, 3.3], AOR 1.8, 95% CI = [1.4, 2.3], respectively). Conclusions: Witnessing traumatic events and having PTSD were independently associated with substance use-related hospitalizations. Targeting people who witnessed traumatic events on 9/11 and/or who have PTSD for substance use- treatment could reduce alcohol and drug-related hospitalizations connected to 9/11.