Alcohol use among injured patients aged 12 to 18 years.
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.
Mannenbach
M S
MS
Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. mannenbach.mark@mayo.edu
Hargarten
S W
SW
Phelan
M B
MB
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries