Alcohol use among injured patients aged 12 to 18 years. Acad Emerg Med 1997 Jan;4(1):40-4
Date
01/01/1997Pubmed ID
9110010DOI
10.1111/j.1553-2712.1997.tb03641.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0031013513 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 26 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the scope of alcohol use among a population of injured adolescents.
METHODS: A convenience sample of injured patients aged 12-18 years seen at a pediatric ED was tested for the presence of alcohol. Injured patients seen within 6 hours of their injuries were asked to submit urine samples for testing using reagent strips. Data were collected from the patient, out-of-hospital emergency care personnel, and parents regarding the circumstances of the injury.
RESULTS: Of the 243 injured patients who were tested during an 8-month period, 231 were included in the final analysis. Ninety patients (39%) were alcohol-positive. The mean age of the alcohol-positive group was 16.0 +/- 1.64 years, compared with 15.3 +/- 1.8 years for the alcohol-negative group (p < 0.003). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups based on race, gender, or injury characteristics. A positive urine alcohol test was found for 18 (33%) of motor vehicle crash victims, 9 (38%) of the motor vehicle drivers, 10 (37%) of the patients who attempted suicide, and 49 (44%) of the assault victims.
CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of injured adolescent patients were alcohol-positive. The authors recommend the use of alcohol screening when treating injured adolescents.
Author List
Mannenbach MS, Hargarten SW, Phelan MBAuthors
Stephen W. Hargarten MD, MPH Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMary Beth Phelan MD, RDMS Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdolescent Behavior
Age Factors
Alcohol Drinking
Child
Humans
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Wounds and Injuries
