title: Correlation of alcohol intoxication with life-threatening assaults.
abstract: The number of violent crimes has increased substantially over the past decade with an associated increase in injury-related mortality. The influence of alcohol intoxication on accidents involving motor vehicles has been investigated extensively, but few studies have examined the influence of alcohol and drug intoxication on life-threatening assaults. This study examined the correlation of alcohol intoxication with life-threatening victimization by penetrating torso trauma. Retrospective evaluation of patients presenting with penetrating nonmissile anterior torso trauma to an urban Level 1 trauma center between January 1988 and December 1991 was performed. Serum ethanol levels and urine toxicology studies were assessed at initial presentation for all patients. Sixty-two patients with anterior abdominal stab wounds were evaluated, of which 51 (82%) were male. Ethnic distribution paralleled that of the surrounding community, with 50 (81%) African-American, 8 (13%) Latino, and 4 (6%) white patients. The mean age was 32 years. Fifty-two (84%) patients tested positive for alcohol, with 39 (63%) having serum levels of ethanol above the legal intoxication limit. Twelve (19%) patients tested positive for cocaine on urine toxicology screen. Polysubstance use was evident in 10 (16%) patients with positive test results for both alcohol and cocaine. These data demonstrate a strong correlation between alcohol use and life-threatening assaults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beech
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mercadel
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000652:urine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine