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 the 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.