Data mining-based clinical profiles of substance use-related emergency department utilizers.

Objective: Substance-use is a prevalent presentation to the emergency department (ED); however, the clinical characterization of patients who are treated and discharged without admission for further treatment is under-investigated. The study aims to define and characterize the clinical profiles of this patient population.

Methods: Patients' presentations were examined by clinical data mining (chart review) of ED records of substance use-related events of individuals discharged without admission for further treatment.