A cohort study of drink-driving motor vehicle crashes and alcohol-related diseases.
OBJECTIVE
To elicit whether drivers involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes are more likely to have future alcohol-related hospital admissions.


METHODS
A population-based cohort study of 3,286 drivers involved in a motor vehicle crash between 1988 and 1992 were followed over an eight to 13-year period.


RESULTS
The findings from the study suggest a twofold increased risk associated with an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash and future alcohol-related hospital admission. The average time between an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash and future alcohol-related hospital admission was 12 years. Men and indigenous Australian drivers were more likely to have a future alcohol-related hospital admission.


CONCLUSIONS
It is evident from this study that drink-driving resulting in a motor vehicle crash and hospitalisation could be considered an indicator of a less overt problem of alcohol dependency.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important that penalties for drink-driving go beyond merely punitive action and provide rehabilitation.
Stevenson
Mark
M
Injury Research Centre, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009. marks@dph.uwa.edu.au
D'Alessandro
Peter
P
Bourke
Jack
J
Legge
Matthew
M
Lee
Andy H
AH
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment