Alcohol and violence-related injuries: an emergency room study

Drinking patterns, alcohol-related problems and drinking-in-the-injury event were compared between those admitted to the emergency room (ER) with and without injuries resulting from violence. A probability sample of 1770 adult casualty patients in four hospitals in a single California suburban county were breathalyzed and interviewed at the time of the ER visit. Among all males and females over 30, those with violence-related injuries were more likely than those with other injuries to have positive breathalyzer readings and to report drinking prior to the event, frequent heavy drinking, consequences of drinking, experiences associated with alcohol dependence and loss of control and prior treatment for an alcohol problem. The data suggest a need for research to test whether a brief intervention at the time of the ER visit for problem drinking or a referral for more extensive alcohol treatment can effect a reduction in alcohol-related violence and other alcohol-related problems.