Injury type, injury severity, and repeat occurrence of alcohol-related trauma in adolescents

Injury associated with alcohol use is a significant problem among adolescents; however, routine evaluation of alcohol use in this population is not conducted. The purpose of this study was to compare injured adolescents presenting to an emergency room with a positive serum alcohol concentration (SAC+) with those injured adolescents with a negative serum alcohol concentration (SAC-). Data were collected retrospectively on 176 injured patients, between the ages of 13 and 18, consecutively admitted to a university hospital from January 1, 1989-December 31, 1990. Information collected included mechanism and severity of injury, outcome, SAC, length of stay, psychiatric history, prior or subsequent admission for injury, and hospital charges. Of those tested with an SAC, more than one-third had a positive SAC. Patients with positive SACs had a greater probability of having a psychiatric history and more frequently had a prior or subsequent injury. Furthermore, only 34% of SAC+ patients were referred for counseling. The results indicate that a SAC should be obtained on all adolescents admitted for trauma, that adolescents presenting with injuries and a positive SAC should be referred for alcohol and psychiatric assessment, and that injured adolescents may be at increased risk for repeat injuries in the future.