Methamphetamine use associated with gun and knife violence: A matched cohort analysis

Areg Grigorian, MD; Matthew Martin, MD; Morgan Schellenberg, MD; Brent Emigh, MD; Jeffry Nahmias, MD, MHPE; Kazuhide Matsushima, MD; Meghan Lewis, MD; Kenji Inaba, MD

Surgery Open Science (Jun 2023)

Methamphetamine use associated with gun and knife violence: A matched cohort analysis

Areg Grigorian, MD,
Matthew Martin, MD,
Morgan Schellenberg, MD,
Brent Emigh, MD,
Jeffry Nahmias, MD, MHPE,
Kazuhide Matsushima, MD,
Meghan Lewis, MD,
Kenji Inaba, MD

Affiliations

Areg Grigorian, MD: University of California, Irvine, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, Orange, CA, USA; Corresponding author at: Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, 3200 Chapman Ave #6200, Orange, CA, USA.
Matthew Martin, MD: University of Southern California, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Morgan Schellenberg, MD: University of Southern California, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Brent Emigh, MD: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care, Providence, RI, USA
Jeffry Nahmias, MD, MHPE: University of California, Irvine, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Burns and Surgical Critical Care, Orange, CA, USA
Kazuhide Matsushima, MD: University of Southern California, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Meghan Lewis, MD: University of Southern California, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Kenji Inaba, MD: University of Southern California, Department of Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13
pp. 71 – 74

Abstract

Read online

Introduction: There may be an association between violence and methamphetamine use. We hypothesized that trauma patients screening positive for methamphetamines are more likely to present after penetrating trauma and have increased mortality. Methods: The 2017–2019 TQIP was used to 1:2 match methamphetamine (meth+) patients to patients testing negative for all drugs (meth-). Patients with polysubstance/alcohol use were excluded. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: The rate of methamphetamine use was 3.1 %. After matching, there was no difference in vitals, injury severity score, sex, and comorbidities between cohorts (all p > 0.05). Compared to meth-, the meth+ group was more commonly sustained penetrating trauma (19.8 % vs. 9.2 %, p < 0.001) with stab-wounds being the most common penetrating mechanism (10.5 % vs. 4.5 %, p < 0.001). The meth+ group more commonly underwent surgery immediately from the emergency department (ED) (20.3 % vs. 13.3 %, p < 0.001). The associated risk of death in the ED was higher for the meth+ group (OR 2.77, CI 1.45–5.28, p = 0.002), however, the risk was similar for patients that were admitted or received an operation (p = 0.065). Conclusion: Trauma patients using methamphetamine more commonly presented after gun or knife violence and required immediate surgical intervention. They also have increased associated risk of death in the ED. Given these serious findings, a multidisciplinary approach in helping curtail the worsening epidemic of methamphetamine use appears warranted as it is related to penetrating trauma and outcomes. Level of evidence: IV.

Published in Surgery Open Science

ISSN: 2589-8450 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/surgery-open-science/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords