Alcohol's contribution to fatal injuries: a report on public perceptions.
OBJECTIVE
We determine whether members of the public understand that alcohol contributes to each of the leading causes of unintentional-injury death in the United States and not just to motor vehicle-related fatalities. Public opinions of selected alcohol control policies were also assessed.


METHODS
We used a national telephone survey of 943 adults, who were selected by random-digit dialing techniques. Respondents' mean estimates of alcohol's involvement in fatal injuries were compared with published data from a meta-analysis of medical examiner data.


RESULTS
The study population accurately estimated the proportion of fatal fall, drowning, and poisoning victims who were legally drunk when they died. Respondents overestimated the proportion of drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes who were intoxicated and underestimated the proportion of fire/burn victims. Fifty-seven percent of participants endorsed the myth that alcohol intoxication is protective against injury in the event of a motor vehicle crash. Participants were divided over whether increasing the legal drinking age to 21 had resulted in fewer injury deaths. Seventy-eight percent of participants did not believe that raising alcohol taxes would reduce fatal injuries. A majority (58%) of respondents supported taking blood alcohol levels on all "seriously injured" patients brought to the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
This report suggests that public awareness of alcohol's contribution to the breadth of the injury problem in the United States is high. Conversely, public understanding of whether prevention strategies have proven to be effective is poor. Emergency medicine practitioners can serve as credible sources of more accurate information for patients and the community at large.
Girasek
Deborah C
DC
Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Center for Injury Research and Policy, Baltimore, MD, USA. DGirasek@usuhs.mil
Gielen
Andrea C
AC
Smith
Gordon S
GS
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality
D000431:Ethanol