Covert Drug Abuse among Patients Hospitalized in the Psychiatric Ward of a University Hospital

Abstract

Fourty-four consecutive admissions less than 41 years of age to the Psychiatric Ward of Temple University Hospital were screened by urine chromatographic analysis for detection of amphetamines, barbiturates, and narcotics. The survey showed a majority of the patients (66%) had detectable levels of drugs of abuse in their urine at least once. As many as 52 % had evidence of covert drug abuse while in the hospital. The amphetamines were, by far, the most frequently abused drugs. Abuse was episodic and no obvious dependence was encountered. The value of urine screening in hospitalized psychiatric patients, especially with regard to its usefulness in evaluation of unexpected changes in their moods and behavior on the ward, is noted. Routine urine chromatographic screening for drugs commonly abused by hospitalized psychiatric patients is recommended.