Alarming Ontario drinking statistics obligate reappraisal of the impact of alcohol on newborns

• Published in: Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) Vol. 191; no. 46; p. E1283
• Main Authors: Alberry, Bonnie, Singh, Shiva M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Joule Inc 18-11-2019; CMA Impact, Inc
• Subjects: Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Drinking (Alcoholic beverages); Fetal alcohol syndrome; Letters; Newborn babies; Newborn infants; Pregnancy; Society; Statistics; Womens health; Canada; Ontario
• ISSN: 0820-3946; 1488-2329
• DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.73305

Alberry and Singh highlight Myran et al's study on rates of emergency department visits attributable to alcohol use. The results show that from 2003 to 2016, emergency department visits for alcohol consumption increased 4.4 times more than overall visits. The study also identifies a number of relevant demographic features. First, the increase in visits to the emergency department is greater for women (86.5%) than for men (53.2%), with 25- to 29-year-olds showing the largest (175%) increase. Second, the highest rate of emergency department visits attributed to alcohol abuse were for 15- to 24-year-old women and 45- to 54-year-old men. Third, among the medical harms identified was suspected fetal damage, including fetal alcohol syndrome, which increased from 6 cases in 2003 to 134 in 2016. This represents an increase of 2133.3%, the largest percentage increase in any of the health outcomes assessed.