title: A descriptive study of trauma, alcohol, and alcoholism in young adults.
abstract: Young adults, 18-20 years of age, admitted to a trauma center via the emergency department, were studied to determine if they had been drinking prior to their injury event. The prevalence of self-reported chronic alcohol problems was examined using the short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (SMAST). Of the 319 subjects, 131 (41%) tested positive for alcohol, including about one-half of those with intentional injuries and 38% with unintentional injuries. Approximately 22% had blood alcohol concentrations of 100 mg/dL or more, indicating they were legally intoxicated at the time of their injury. Of study subjects who completed the SMAST, 49% attained scores suggesting potential or probable alcoholism, and 20% had already sought some type of treatment, despite their young age. Health-care practices and policies related to these findings include routine screening of trauma patients for alcohol abuse and integration of chemical dependency intervention services with trauma care.
authors.affiliation: Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104.
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rivara
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gurney
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Seguin
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Copass
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jurkovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014861:Washington; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*