Helpful Hints

All of the tables in ED Trends from DAWN share 5 general characteristics. You may select a particular table by selecting combinations of these characteristics.

The following 5 characteristics define the rows, columns, and content of each table. Make your selection for a table that:

• pertains to the U.S. or a specific metropolitan area (Geographic Areas)
• focuses on drugs individually or by category (Measures)
• shows overall trends or breakdowns by patient or episode characteristics (Show With)
• contains estimates, population-adjusted rates, or measures of precision (Statistics)
• includes trends across half-year or full-year Periods.

The options, including the default selections, for each of these characteristics are explained below.

Geographic Areas

DAWN produces estimates for 21 metropolitan areas and for the Nation as a whole. You can view tables for the Total U.S., a specific metropolitan area, or for all metropolitan areas shown together.

If you select "Total U.S.," the table will show aggregated statistics for the coterminous U.S. Total U.S. is the default selection.

If you select "All Metro Areas," the table will show statistics for each of the 21 metropolitan areas and the total U.S.

If you select a specific metropolitan area (i.e., Atlanta, Baltimore, … Washington DC.), the table will show only the statistics for that area.

Measures

DAWN collects data on thousands of individual drugs. Estimates are shown for all cases or drugs, for specific drug categories, and for individual drug in selected categories. Information about how drugs are classified in DAWN is available in the Drug Vocabulary section of this site.

There is no default selection for this characteristic. Therefore, you must select a Measure.

Totals

Three aggregate measures are produced from DAWN:

• All Drug Episodes – shows the estimated number of ED visits ("episodes") in which drug abuse was implicated. These measures include all episodes regardless of the number or type of substance involved.

• All Drug Mentions – shows the estimated number of times drugs were reported ("mentioned") in the drug-related episodes. Because there can be multiple drugs involved in a drug-related ED visit (episode), the total number of drug mentions always exceeds the total number of episodes.

• Total ED Visits – shows the total estimated number of ED visits by year, regardless of whether drug abuse was involved. These tables are helpful for seeing the larger context in which drug-related episodes occur.

Drug Mentions by Category and for Individual Drugs

DAWN collects data on illicit drugs, prescription and over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and non-pharmaceutical inhalants. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are classified by their primary intended therapeutic uses, regardless of their effect when abused.

• Drug Mentions by Type of Drug – In these tables, mentions are shown for major categories as a whole and for major subcategories. The 5 major categories broken down by subcategories are:
  
  
  • Major substances of abuse (e.g., cocaine, heroin, marijuana)
  • Psychotherapeutic agents (e.g., benzodiazepines)
  • Central nervous system agents (e.g., narcotic analgesics)
  • Respiratory agents (e.g., cough and cold preparations)
  • Cardiovascular agents (e.g., beta blockers)

• Drug Mentions, by Drug Detail – In these tables, mentions are shown for the individual drugs that make up the 5 major categories:
  
  
  • Major substances of abuse (e.g., crack cocaine)
  • Psychotherapeutic agents (e.g., alprazolam)
  • Central nervous system agents (e.g., oxycodone)
  • Respiratory agents (e.g., cough syrups containing codeine)
  • Cardiovascular agents (e.g., propranolol)

• Drug Mentions, for Major Substances of Abuse – Separate estimates are shown for each of 15 major drugs of abuse. If one of these drugs is selected, the table will show statistics for that drug alone. The 15 major substances of abuse are (in alphabetical order):
  
  
  • Alcohol-in-combination (alcohol is reported to DAWN only when present with another reportable drug)
  • Amphetamines
  • Cocaine
  • Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol)
  • GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate)
  • Heroin
  • Inhalants (non-pharmaceuticals or general anesthetics inhaled for their psychic effects)
  • Ketamine
  • LSD
  • Marijuana
  • MDMA ("Ecstasy")
  • Methamphetamine
  • Miscellaneous hallucinogens (e.g., mescaline, psilocybin)
  • PCP
  • Combinations of major substances (that is, a drug that contains two or more of the major substances of abuse; e.g., speedball is a combination of heroin and cocaine)
  
  

Show With

All tables in ED Trends show trends over time, with statistical tests comparing key periods. Some also show breakdowns by patient demographics or episode characteristics.

• Trends Only – rows in these tables show aggregate estimates for drugs or drug categories; neither patient demographics nor episode characteristics are shown. The table columns show time periods (year or half-year). This is the default selection.

• Patient Demographics – rows in these tables show breakdowns by characteristics of the patient: gender, race/ethnicity, and age in categories. The table columns show time periods (year or half-year).

• Episode Characteristics – rows in these tables show breakdowns by characteristics of the ED visit: whether one or multiple drugs were involved, the reason for taking the drug (motive), the reason for the ED visit, and the disposition of the patient. The table columns show time periods (year or half-year).

Statistics

Three types of statistics are available for most tables: estimates, rates, and relative standard errors (RSEs).

Estimates – the table shows the estimated number of drug episodes or mentions associated with the selected criteria. This is the default selection.

Rates – the table shows the estimated rate of drug episodes or mentions per 100,000 population. Adjusting for population is necessary for valid comparisons across metropolitan areas or patient demographic categories. Rates account for the underlying differences in population size.

RSEs – the table provides the relative standard errors (RSEs) associated with the corresponding "estimate." The higher the relatively standard error the less precise the estimate. Estimates with RSEs greater than 50% are considered too imprecise for publication and are suppressed in the tables of estimates and rates.

Periods

Periods of time are represented in columns in each table. Statistical tests compare the last period with the previous two periods and with the earliest period.

If you select "Years," each column heading is a full calendar year (i.e., 1994, 1995, … 2001). This is the default selection.

If you select "Half-Years," each column heading will be a 6-month period (Jan-Jun 1997, Jul-Dec 1997… Jul-Dec 2001). Preliminary estimates are published for the first half of each year and are updated when the full year’s estimates become final. Preliminary estimates may be higher or lower than the final estimates for the same period.

FAQs

Q: I made my selections, but I receive a message that says "There is no table associated with those characteristics." Why not?
A: Although the available tables include many combinations of characteristics, not every possible combination is currently available. To the extent possible, the system has disabled combinations that will not return a table. See the Helpful Hints for more information about selecting table content.

Q: I want to create a table using options that are not on these lists. May I do this?
A: This search features provides access only to existing tables. These include all of the tables published in the latest issue of ED Trends from DAWN, and companion tables for each of the 21 metropolitan areas oversampled in DAWN. At this time, only participating facilities have the ability to create custom tabulations.

Q: Why can't I access mortality data tables through this lookup feature?
A: This lookup feature is designed to provide easier access to ED tables that are especially difficult to use because they are so numerous. All available tables for the DAWN mortality data are available in a single publication (Mortality Data from DAWN).