El Moheb M, Herrera-Escobar JP, Breen K, et al. - Up to 40% of trauma patients had reporting of psychoactive drug use (PDU), which is linked with a higher rate of in-hospital complications. Researchers here investigated the long-term functional, mental, and psychosocial outcomes of PDU in trauma patients 6 to 12 months after injury. They contacted trauma patients with moderate to severe injuries (Injury Severity Score, > 9) who had a toxicology screen upon admission to one of three level 1 trauma centers by phone 6 to 12 months postinjury. They identified 1,699 eligible patients. Of these, 571 (34%) were incorporated in the analysis, and 173 (30.3%) screened positive for PDU on admission. In the long term, there appeared a strong and independent link of PDU in trauma patients with worse mental health, more chronic pain, and severe impairment in social functioning. A trauma hospitalization seems to represent an opportunity to recognize patients at risk and to reduce the long-term influence of PDU on recovery.