The alcohol intoxicated child and its prognosis

This article is a review of Swedish and international literature concerning children apprehended for drunkenness. The need for a thorough psychosocial investigation before deciding how to interpret the episode is stressed. A high-risk group of children, in whom the drunkenness is to be looked upon as a warning signal of developing alcoholism, is described. Increased co-operation between the Department of Paediatrics and of Child and Youth Psychiatry, Social Welfare Authorities and School Health Care regarding the treatment of these children is recommended.