Adolescent Alcohol Intoxication in the Dutch Hospital Departments of Pediatrics: A 2-Year Comparison Study

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 212 - 214
• Main Authors: van Hoof, Joris J., M.Sc, Van Der Lely, Nico, Ph.D, Bouthoorn, Selma H., M.Sc, Van Dalen, Wim E., M.Sc, Pereira, Rob R., Ph.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-02-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age; Alcohol intoxication; Alcoholic Intoxication - epidemiology; Alcoholism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood alcohol level; Blood levels; Child; Data processing; Drugs; Ethanol; Familiarity; Hospital Departments; Hospital treatment; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Intoxication; Inventories; Medical sciences; Netherlands - epidemiology; Paediatrics; Patient Admission; Pediatrics; Personnel; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Siblings; Netherlands; Europe; Adolescents; Alcohol intoxication; Hospital treatment; Human; Prevalence; Mental health; Hospital environment; Substance abuse; Epidemiology; Alcoholic beverage; Adolescent; Poisoning; Public health
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.06.001

Abstract Purpose To monitor the prevalence of, and the circumstances leading to, adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions in Dutch hospital departments of pediatrics. Methods Data were collected in 2007 and 2008, using the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System, in which pediatricians received questionnaires on varying issues, including adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions. Results The adolescents treated in 2008, as in 2007, were average youth across proportion of gender, educational level, school performances, family structure, siblings, familiarity with medical or aid agencies, alcohol use, and other (illicit) drug use. In 2008, 13% more adolescents were treated. These adolescents showed a trend of having a younger average age, higher blood alcohol concentrations, and longer durations of mental impairment. About 45% of the adolescents who were treated for alcohol intoxication had purchased alcohol from a commercial place, despite that 51 times the specific adolescent had not reached the legal age of 16 years old. About one-third of the youngsters consumed alcohol at home or at a friend's home. Conclusions The number of adolescents suffering from alcohol intoxication increased in 2008 compared with 2007. Parental (lack of) involvement and responsibilities of commercial sales personnel are discussed.