A longitudinal study of health risks associated with alcohol abuse in young navy men

Hospital admission histories were compared for groups of alcohol abusers and controls who entered the Navy in 1970 or 1971 and who reenlisted. The histories extended over a period of 6 to 8 years. The alcohol abuse group had a significantly higher mean number of hospital admissions and days hospitalized for conditions other than alcoholism than did the controls. Differences in frequencies of illnesses between the two groups were apparent during the first year in service and continued throughout the study period. Highest rates of illness in both groups were reported for accidents, poisonings, and violence; diseases of the respiratory system; infective and parasitic diseases, and diseases of the respiratory system; infective and parasitic diseases, and diseases of the digestive system. Mental diseases were a major cause of morbidity in the alcohol abuse group but not in the control group. Differences in illness rates were related to identification as alcohol abusers rather than to differences between abusers and controls in education, aptitude, or age at enlistment.