Illicit drug-related harm during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games: implications for public health surveillance and action.

Abstract

To describe presentations to emergency departments during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games for conditions related to the use of illicit drugs; to discuss the implications of such presentations for surveillance and public health action at similar events in the future. Identification of target presentations in sentinel emergency departments; entry of data into a purpose-built database; and daily electronic transfer of data for central collation and analysis. Fifteen sentinel emergency departments in the greater Sydney metropolitan area for a 38-day period spanning the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Four hundred and twenty-four presentations to sentinel emergency departments with conditions related to illicit drug use. Patient's age, sex, country and region of residence, location of emergency department, types of illicit drugs involved and departure status. The mean daily number of presentations for adverse events due to illicit drug use was significantly higher (13.3 versus 8.8 presentations, t = 2.2, P = 0.04) in the 2-week Olympic Games period than in the lead-up to the Games, culminating in a large peak following the closing ceremony. There was also a significant increase (5.1 versus 1.7 presentations, t = 2.8, P = 0.007) in the mean daily number of presentations related to use of ecstasy or amphetamines, whereas no change was noted in presentations related to heroin use. Over half (52%) of presentations occurred at two emergency departments in areas known as being 'hot-spots' for illicit drug use. Enhanced surveillance of adverse events following illicit drug use, possibly targeting known 'hot-spots', should be considered for future mass events. Advance preparation of preventive strategies, such as 'party-safe' messages, will enable rapid response to unusual patterns of illicit drug-related harm during future mass events.