Negative consequences associated with daily alcohol use as a nonlinear function of number of drinks in a daily diary study.

INTRODUCTION: Drinking intensity among young adults is associated with greater negative alcohol-related consequences, but often studied using categorical drinking thresholds. This study examined how alcohol-related consequences varied as a continuous function of number of drinks consumed, without imposing thresholds, to identify drink ranges for which risk is greatest. METHODS: Analyses included daily surveys from the Young Adult Daily Life study (2019-22) in which individuals reported drinking 1 or more alcoholic drinks (n=5219 days; 832 individuals). Time-varying effect models estimated total number of negative alcohol-related consequences and five individual consequences (hangover, drank more than planned, nausea/vomiting, did something embarrassing, blacked out) as a function of the number of drinks consumed among young adult males and females. RESULTS: Often, increases in the number and prevalence of negative consequences were a nonlinear function of the number of drinks consumed. Females reported few negative consequences on 1-to-3-drink occasions but steep increases in consequences on 4-to-9-drink occasions. Among females, the prevalence of blacking out increased six-fold from 4-drink (3.4%; 95% CI=2.6,4.7) to 9-drink occasions (20.6%; 95% CI=16.1,26.1). Among males, the prevalence of some consequences, while not linear, increased across the full drink range. Blacking out among males increased from 9.6% (95% CI=6.2,14.7) on 10-drink occasions to 23.9% (95% CI=15.0,35.8) on 15-drink occasions. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial heterogeneity is missed when typical drinking categories are used. In particular, variability in consequences across levels of the traditional binge drinking category suggests that important differences in risk may be missed when assessed as a uniform category.

Sales to Apparently Intoxicated Customers in Three States With Different Histories of Responsible Beverage Service Training.

OBJECTIVE: Most states prohibit sales of alcohol to customers who are apparently intoxicated, and many require training in responsible beverage service (RBS), with the aim of reducing driving while intoxicated (DWI) and other harms. Sales to apparently intoxicated patrons were assessed in onsite alcohol sales establishments and compared across three states. METHOD: A sample of 180 licensed onsite alcohol establishments was selected in California (n = 60), New Mexico (n = 60), and Washington State (n = 60). States had different RBS training histories, content, and procedures. Research confederates, trained to feign cues of intoxication, visited each establishment twice. The pseudo-intoxicated patron (PP) ordered an alcoholic beverage while displaying intoxication cues. Sale of alcohol was the primary outcome. RESULTS: At 179 establishments assessed, PPs were served alcohol during 56.5% of 356 visits (35.6% of establishments served and 22.6% did not serve at both visits). Alcohol sales were less frequent in New Mexico (47.9% of visits; odds ratio [OR] = 0.374, p = .008) and Washington State (49.6%; OR = 0.387, p = .012) than in California (72.0%). Servers less consistently refused service at both visits (6.8%) in California than New Mexico (33.9%) or Washington (27.1%), χ2(4, n = 177) = 16.72, p = .002. Alcohol sales were higher when intoxication cues were less obvious (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Overservice of alcohol to apparently intoxicated customers was frequent and likely elevated risk of DWI and other harms. The lower sales in New Mexico and Washington than California may show that a policy approach prohibiting sales to intoxicated customers combined with well-established RBS training can reduce overservice. Further efforts are needed to reduce overservice.

Concurrent Alcohol and Opioid Intoxication in Emergency Department Patients Leads to Greater Resource Utilization.

Background: Concurrent alcohol intoxication can complicate emergency department (ED) presentations for opioid-related adverse events. We sought to determine if there was a difference in resource utilization among patients who presented to the ED with concurrent opioid and alcohol intoxication compared to opioid intoxication alone. Methods: Using linked state-wide databases from the Maryland Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), we identified patients with a diagnosis of opioid intoxication treated in the ED from 2016 to 2018. We measured healthcare utilization for each patient in the ED settings for one year after the initial ED visit and estimated direct costs. We performed logistic regression comparing patients presented with co-intoxication to those without. Results: Of 12,295 patients who presented to the ED for opioid intoxication during the study period, 703 (5.7%) had concurrent alcohol intoxication. Patients with co-intoxication had more recurrent ED visits (340 vs 247.4 per 1000 patients, p < 0.05), higher index ED visit admission rates (26.9% vs 19.4%, p < 0.001), but similar overall costs ($3736 vs $2861, p < 0.05) at one year. Co-intoxication was associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.51-1.65), high zip code income (OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.21), and higher rates of intoxication with all classes of drugs analyzed (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that mental health disorders, socioeconomic status, and increased ED utilization are associated with co-intoxication of opioids and alcohol presenting to the ED. Further research is needed to elucidate factors responsible for the increased resource use in this population.

Serving Alcohol to an "Obviously Intoxicated" Patron.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol overservice at on-premises establishments is associated with driving while intoxicated, violence, and other harms. This study examined rates of alcohol overservice and service refusal among licensed on-premises establishments in northern California and characteristics of establishments, servers, and pseudo-patrons (PPs) that may be associated with service refusal. METHOD: In 2022, 300 licensed on-premises establishments were sampled in nine counties representing the San Francisco Bay Area. From July 2022 to January 2023, PP and observer teams visited each establishment, and PPs attempted to buy alcohol while displaying obvious signs of intoxication. The outcome of each purchase attempt; characteristics of establishments, servers, and PPs; and month, day, and time were recorded. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to address study objectives. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of the establishments refused alcohol service to PPs. No establishment or server characteristics were significantly associated with service refusal in logistic regression analysis, nor were month, day, or time. However, service refusal was significantly more likely among female PPs (odds ratio = 3.71, 95% CI [1.67, 8.24], p < .01) and PPs displaying obvious or very obvious signs of intoxication (odds ratio = 9.28, 95% CI [1.99, 43.40], p < .01). There was no significant interaction effect of PP × Server Gender on the likelihood of service refusal. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that alcohol overservice to obviously intoxicated patrons remains common at licensed on-premises establishments. Mandatory responsible beverage service training of servers and enforcement of alcohol overservice laws are needed to reduce overservice and related harms.

Comparison of emergency transport for acute alcohol intoxication before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A retrospective observational study.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a broad effect on social, economic, educational, and political systems. We investigated the effect of COVID-19 on emergency transportation due to acute alcohol intoxication in the Kochi Prefecture in Japan, a region with high alcohol consumption. This retrospective observational study was conducted using the data of 62,138 patients from the Kochi-Iryo-Net database, Kochi Prefecture's emergency medical and wide-area disaster information system. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between emergency transportation and alcohol intoxication. This analysis compared the monthly number of transportations during 2019 (as reference) with that throughout 2020 and 2021. Approximately 1.5 % of all emergency transportation cases were related to acute alcohol intoxication. The number of emergency transportation cases due to acute alcohol intoxication declined by 0.5 % in 2020 and 0.7 % in 2021 compared with that in 2019. Moreover, compared with that in 2019, the number of cases of emergency transportation due to acute alcohol intoxication significantly decreased in 2020 (incidence rate ratio: 0.78; 95 % confidence interval: 0.67-0.91) and 2021 (incidence rate ratio: 0.73; 95 % confidence interval: 0.63-0.86). Lifestyle changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the number of emergency transports due to acute alcohol intoxication in 2020 and 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) compared to that in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Does the decline in Swedish adolescent drinking persist into early adulthood?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sweden has experienced a substantial decrease in adolescent drinking over the past decades. Whether the reduction persists into early adulthood remains unclear. Using survey data, the present study aimed to determine whether reductions in indicators of alcohol use observed among adolescents remain in early adulthood and whether changes in alcohol intake are consistent among light/moderate and heavy drinkers. DESIGN: Data from the Swedish monthly Alcohol Monitoring Survey (2001-20) were used to construct five 5-year birth cohorts (1978-82, 1983-87, 1988-92, 1993-97 and 1998-2002). SETTING: Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: A total of n = 52 847 respondents (48% females) aged 16 and 30 years were included in this study. MEASUREMENTS: For both males and females, temporal changes in the prevalence of any drinking, the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and total alcohol intake in the past 30 days in centilitres were analysed. FINDINGS: The prevalence of any drinking in more recent cohorts remained low until young people came into their early (females) and mid- (males) 20s. Male cohorts differed in the prevalence of HED across age, with the later cohorts showing lower odds than earlier cohorts (odds ratios between 0.54 and 0.66). Among females, no systematic differences between cohorts across age could be observed. Later male birth cohorts in light/moderate drinkers had lower alcohol intake than earlier cohorts (correlation coefficients between -0.09 and -0.54). No statistically significant cohort effects were found for male heavy drinkers. Although differences in alcohol intake among females diminished as age increased, the cohorts did not differ systematically in their level of alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, the reduced uptake of drinking in adolescents appears to fade as people move into adulthood. Observed reductions in alcohol intake among light and moderate drinkers appear to persist into adulthood. More recent male cohorts show a lower prevalence rate of heavy episodic drinking.

Measuring Exposure to the Hazardous Drinking of Others and Perceived Opportunity to Intervene as a Bystander.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive alcohol use is very prevalent among young adults, and consequences of drinking are often observed by witnesses. Understanding the circumstances under which witnesses of risky alcohol use help others and whether they perceive these circumstances as an opportunity to engage in bystander intervention are important, but valid measures of these constructs are needed. The current study is a psychometric evaluation of the Exposure to Hazardous Drinking in Others (EHDO) scale and a single-item indicator of Perceived Alcohol-Related Bystander Opportunity (PARBO). METHOD: Young adults (N = 1,011; 46.0% women) who reported being around someone who showed signs of alcohol intoxication in the past 3 months were recruited via Qualtrics Panels. The initial item set for the EHDO was developed through qualitative methods and reflected observed or reported risks or consequences. Factor analyses and Item Response Theory analyses were used to reduce and categorize EHDO items, and construct validity was assessed for the EHDO and the PARBO item. RESULTS: An initial set of 33 EHDO items was reduced to 21, representing two factors: Situational Risk Signs and Problematic Pattern. Both factors demonstrated good model fit, internal consistency, and evidence of convergent validity. The PARBO item showed good construct validity but was distinct from the EHDO. CONCLUSIONS: These instruments are useful for measuring secondhand alcohol risks in a community and are particularly applicable for evaluating bystander intervention for alcohol risk.

COVID-19 pandemic stressors are associated with reported increases in frequency of drunkenness among individuals with a history of alcohol use disorder.

Some sources report increases in alcohol use have been observed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women. Cross-sectional studies suggest that specific COVID-19-related stressful experiences (e.g., social disconnection) may be driving such increases in the general population. Few studies have explored these topics among individuals with a history of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), an especially vulnerable population. Drawing on recent data collected by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA; COVID-19 study N = 1651, 62% women, age range: 30-91) in conjunction with AUD history data collected on the sample since 1990, we investigated associations of COVID-19 related stressors and coping activities with changes in drunkenness frequency since the start of the pandemic. Analyses were conducted for those without a history of AUD (N: 645) and three groups of participants with a history of AUD prior to the start of the pandemic: (1) those experiencing AUD symptoms (N: 606), (2) those in remission who were drinking (N: 231), and (3) those in remission who were abstinent (had not consumed alcohol for 5+ years; N: 169). Gender-stratified models were also examined. Exploratory analyses examined the moderating effects of 'problematic alcohol use' polygenic risk scores (PRS) and neural connectivity (i.e., posterior interhemispheric alpha EEG coherence) on associations between COVID-19 stressors and coping activities with changes in the frequency of drunkenness. Increases in drunkenness frequency since the start of the pandemic were higher among those with a lifetime AUD diagnosis experiencing symptoms prior to the start of the pandemic (14% reported increased drunkenness) when compared to those without a history of AUD (5% reported increased drunkenness). Among individuals in remission from AUD prior to the start of the pandemic, rates of increased drunkenness were 10% for those who were drinking pre-pandemic and 4% for those who had previously been abstinent. Across all groups, women reported nominally greater increases in drunkenness frequency when compared with men, although only women experiencing pre-pandemic AUD symptoms reported significantly greater rates of increased drunkenness since the start of the pandemic compared to men in this group (17% of women vs. 5% of men). Among those without a prior history of AUD, associations between COVID-19 risk and protective factors with increases in drunkenness frequency were not observed. Among all groups with a history of AUD (including those with AUD symptoms and those remitted from AUD), perceived stress was associated with increases in drunkenness. Among the remitted-abstinent group, essential worker status was associated with increases in drunkenness. Gender differences in these associations were observed: among women in the remitted-abstinent group, essential worker status, perceived stress, media consumption, and decreased social interactions were associated with increases in drunkenness. Among men in the remitted-drinking group, perceived stress was associated with increases in drunkenness, and increased relationship quality was associated with decreases in drunkenness. Exploratory analyses indicated that associations between family illness or death with increases in drunkenness and increased relationship quality with decreases in drunkenness were more pronounced among the remitted-drinking participants with higher PRS. Associations between family illness or death, media consumption, and economic hardships with increases in drunkenness and healthy coping with decreases in drunkenness were more pronounced among the remitted-abstinent group with lower interhemispheric alpha EEG connectivity. Our results demonstrated that only individuals with pre-pandemic AUD symptoms reported greater increases in drunkenness frequency since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those without a lifetime history of AUD. This increase was more pronounced among women than men in this group. However, COVID-19-related stressors and coping activities were associated with changes in the frequency of drunkenness among all groups of participants with a prior history of AUD, including those experiencing AUD symptoms, as well as abstinent and non-abstinent participants in remission. Perceived stress, essential worker status, media consumption, social connections (especially for women), and relationship quality (especially for men) are specific areas of focus for designing intervention and prevention strategies aimed at reducing pandemic-related alcohol misuse among this particularly vulnerable group. Interestingly, these associations were not observed for individuals without a prior history of AUD, supporting prior literature that demonstrates that widespread stressors (e.g., pandemics, terrorist attacks) disproportionately impact the mental health and alcohol use of those with a prior history of problems.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department alcohol intoxication presentations and positive screens for problem drinking.

Our aim was to assess the changes in patients presenting with acute alcohol intoxications or positive screens for problem drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic in a seven-hospital health system. A retrospective chart review of emergency department (ED) visits from seven hospitals in the Washington, DC/Baltimore, and MD area from January 2019 to June 2021 is provided. The health system utilizes a validated system for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for ED patients. We evaluated trends in patients who had a positive SBIRT screen for problem drinking (AUDIT-C score ≥ 3 in women, 4 in men), alcohol misuse (≥5), and those presenting with acute alcohol intoxication before March 2020 and during the early COVID pandemic period. There were 510 648 patients who were screened, ranging from ages of 16 to 95 years during the study period. There was an overall increase in patients who screened positive for problem drinking, alcohol misuse, and acute intoxications. While there was an overall decrease in the total number of ED visits during the start of the pandemic, which later increased near prepandemic levels, alcohol-related presentations as a percentage of total visits increased during the early pandemic period. There was an overall decrease in ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic study period; problem drinking and acute intoxication presentation held steady, leading to an overall increase in proportion compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Future research should focus on lessons learned during this time and should navigate the postpandemic care of patients with AUD. There was an increase in the proportion of ED visits for alcohol intoxications and positive screens for problem drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic in our seven-hospital system.

Drinking behaviors of Chinese adolescents over the past three decades: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adolescent drinking is a major worldwide public health challenge. China is home to the world's second largest youth population, but relatively little is known about adolescent drinking behaviors. This study examined (1) prevalence rates and sex and age differences in drinking behaviors among Chinese adolescents over the past three decades and (2) whether underage drinking declined following the enactment of a strict national underage drinking policy in 2006. Literature search was conducted in one Chinese and five English databases following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 186 studies were included in the meta-analyses using random-effects models on nine measures (Ns range: 13,489-755,796, number of studies range: 12-110): lifetime, past month, past year, and weekly drinking; lifetime, past year, and past month drunkenness; past month binge drinking, and age at first drinking (≤ 13 years). Males reported higher prevalence on all drinking behaviors except for weekly drinking and past month drunkenness. High school students reported higher prevalence in lifetime drinking, past year drunkenness, and lifetime drunkenness, than middle school students. No measured drinking behavior showed a significant or reliable decline after 2006. The findings suggest that prevalence rates of drinking behaviors remain high among Chinese adolescents but are lower than among European or North American adolescents. The 2006 Chinese national policy to reduce underage drinking did not measurably alter patterns of underage drinking. Implications for prevention, research, and policy are discussed.

Patterns of Accidental and Intentional Alcohol Intoxication Initiation among French Young Adults: A Survival Analysis.

Background: The aim of the study was to explore patterns of accidental and intentional intoxication among French young adults who use alcohol. Methodology: The study draws on data from the 2017 French Health Barometer. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the factors associated with accidental and intentional alcohol intoxication initiation. Covariates studied were gender, age, employment status, consultation for mental health problems, depression lasting at least two weeks in the past 12 months, and previous tobacco or cannabis use as time-dependent variables. Results: Women accounted for 50.4% of our sample, and the mean age of respondents was 29.2 (standard deviation = 6.3). The prevalence of lifetime accidental intoxication among alcohol users was 77.0% and 17.3% for intentional intoxication. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that the first intentional intoxication experience occurred later than the first accidental intoxication. Factors associated with accidental intoxication initiation in multivariate analyses were: male gender, age under 30, previous use of tobacco and cannabis, experiencing depression that lasted at least two weeks in the past 12 months, and having consulted for mental health problems in the past 12 months. Economically inactive people and students had a lower risk of experiencing accidental intoxication than those who were employed. Similar correlates were found for intentional intoxication, but being economically inactive was more strongly associated with intentional intoxication initiation. Conclusions: These results suggest the strong potential for alcohol consumption to become hazardous, particularly if tobacco or cannabis are also used. Prevention programs on alcohol must target consumers at the earliest stage and integrate other substances often used in a festive context.

Gender-specific differences in comorbidities, in-hospital complications and outcomes in emergency patients with ethanol intoxication with and without multisubstance use.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: To analyse gender-specific differences in comorbidities, multisubstance abuse, in-hospital complications, intensive care unit transfers and referrals to psychiatric wards of emergency department patients with ethanol intoxication. Several lines of evidence suggest an influence of gender differences on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to various diseases. METHODS: Over a period of 7 years, all patients with signs or symptoms of ethanol intoxication and a positive blood ethanol test admitted for the first time to the emergency department of a Swiss regional tertiary referral hospital were prospectively enrolled. Patients were categorised into two subgroups: patients without additional drug use were considered ethanol-only cases, whereas patients who had also ingested other substances (as determined from bystanders, physicians and urine drug screening) were considered multisubstance cases. A retrospective analysis of this database evaluated gender-specific differences in comorbidities, multisubstance abuse, in-hospital complications, intensive care unit transfers and referrals to psychiatric wards within these two subgroups. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test for categorical data and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous data. RESULTS: Of 409 enrolled patients, 236 cases were ethanol-only and 173 were multisubstance cases. The three most common comorbidities in multisubstance patients showed significant gender differences: psychiatric disorders (43% males vs 61% females; p = 0.022), chronic ethanol abuse (55% males vs 32% females; p = 0.002) and drug addiction (44% males vs 17% females; p = 0.001). Gender differences were also found for the most frequently co-ingested substances: benzodiazepines (35% males vs 43% females; p = 0.014), cannabis (45% males vs 24% females; p = 0.006) and cocaine (24% males vs 6% females; p = 0.001). Male and female ethanol-only patients were transferred to the intensive care unit in 8% of cases. In multisubstance cases, 32% of male and 43% of female patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (no significant gender difference). The psychiatric ward referral rate in male (30%) and female (48%) patients with multisubstance abuse was significantly different (p = 0.028). No significant gender difference in psychiatric ward referral rates was observed for ethanol-only patients (12% males, 17% females). CONCLUSION: Among emergency department patients admitted with ethanol intoxication, gender differences in comorbidities, substance use and psychiatric ward referrals were highly significant among patients who presented with multisubstance abuse. Rates of intensive care unit transfer for patients with ethanol intoxication are substantial for both genders, reflecting relevant disease burden and resource demand, as well as the need for further preventive efforts.

Drug and alcohol intoxication in major trauma: Associations, trends and outcomes over a decade.

OBJECTIVES: Drug and alcohol intoxication is common among injured patients altering trauma presentation and characteristics. However, uncertainty exists regarding the effect of intoxication on injury severity, as well as outcomes. The present study aims to provide an update on substance-use patterns and their association with traumatic presentation and outcome within a contemporary Australian context. METHODS: All major trauma patients captured in our centre's Trauma Registry between July 2010 and June 2020 were included. Demographic, injury characteristic, outcome and substance-use data were collected. Differences in injury severity and characteristics were explored using χ2 tests, while outcomes were modelled using adjusted binomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 9700 patients, 9% were drug-intoxicated prior to injury, while 9.4% were alcohol-intoxicated. Drug use almost tripled between 2010 (4.8%) and 2020 (13.3%), while alcohol intoxication fell, from 11.7% to 7.3%, over the same period. Although there were significant differences in trauma mechanism among intoxicated patients, group comparison found no difference in Injury Severity Score for any group. Regarding outcomes, all intoxication resulted in significantly greater odds (odds ratio 1.62-2.41) of ICU admission. No difference in mortality was found among individual substance-use groups; however, polysubstance-intoxicated patients had 3.52 times greater odds of dying (95% confidence interval 1.21-10.23) compared to non-intoxicated patients. CONCLUSION: Within this contemporary Australian population, we demonstrate escalating rates of drug intoxication and declining rates of alcohol intoxication prior to trauma. Intoxication was associated with more frequent violent and non-accidental injury, and despite no difference in severity, it was associated with worse outcomes.

Description of Trends over the Week in Alcohol-Related Ambulance Attendance Data.

Alcohol harms are often determined using a proxy measure based on temporal patterns during the week when harms are most likely to occur. This study utilised coded Australian ambulance data from the Victorian arm of the National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS) to investigate temporal patterns across the week for alcohol-related ambulance attendances in 2019. These patterns were examined by season, regionality, gender, and age group. We found clear temporal peaks: from Friday 6:00 p.m. to Saturday 3:59 a.m. for both alcohol-involved and alcohol-intoxication-related attendance, from Saturday 6:00 p.m. to Sunday 4:59 a.m. for alcohol-involved attendances, and from Saturday 5:00 p.m. to Sunday 4:49 a.m. for alcohol-intoxication-related attendances. However, these temporal trends varied across age groups. Additionally, hours during Thursday and Sunday evenings also demonstrated peaks in attendances. There were no substantive differences between genders. Younger age groups (18-24 and 25-29 years) had a peak of alcohol-related attendances from 7:00 p.m. to 7:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, whereas the peak in attendances for 50-59 and 60+ years was from 5:00 p.m. to 2:59 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. These findings further the understanding of the impacts of alcohol during different times throughout the week, which can guide targeted policy responses regarding alcohol use and health service capacity planning.

Saturday Night Fever: Interpersonal Violence as a Reason for Presentation in a University Emergency Department.

(1) Presentations to a trauma emergency department following a violent confrontation account for a relevant proportion of the overall population. To date, violence (against women) in the domestic setting has been studied in particular. However, representative demographic and preclinical/clinical data outside of this specific subgroup on interpersonal violence are limited; (2) Patient admission records were searched for the occurrence of violent acts between 1 January and 31 December 2019. A total of 290 patients out of over 9000 patients were retrospectively included in the "violence group" (VG). A "typical" traumatologic cohort (presentation due to, among other things, sport-related trauma, falls, or traffic accidents) who had presented during the same period served as comparison group. Then, differences in the type of presentation (pedestrian, ambulance, or trauma room), time of presentation (day of week, time of day), diagnostic (imaging) and therapeutic (wound care, surgery, inpatient admission) measures performed, and discharge diagnosis were examined; (3) A large proportion of the VG were male, and half of the patients were under the influence of alcohol. Significantly more patients in the VG presented via the ambulance service or trauma room and during the weekend and the night. Computed tomography was performed significantly more often in the VG. Surgical wound care in the VG was required significantly more often, with injuries to the head being the most common; (4) The VG represents a relevant cost factor for the healthcare system. Because of the frequent head injuries with concomitant alcohol intoxication, all mental status abnormalities should be attributed to brain injury rather than alcohol intoxication until proven otherwise, to ensure the best possible clinical outcome.

Do Australian adolescents with permission to drink at home engage in different alcohol use behaviours and experience more harms than those without such permission?

INTRODUCTION: Around half of Australian students aged 16-17 are estimated to have drunk alcohol in the past month, with 11% drinking at 'risky' levels. This study investigated: (i) how many Australian adolescents aged 16-17 had parental permission to drink at home in 2016/17 and whether prevalence differed by adolescent sex; (ii) whether adolescents allowed to drink at home had drunk more recently and were drinking greater quantities; (iii) if adolescents allowed to drink at home experienced more alcohol-related harms; and (iv) if parental drinking patterns were associated with permitting adolescents to drink at home. METHODS: Data from Wave 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used. Descriptive and bivariate analyses addressed Aims i-iii. Nested multivariable logistic regression models addressed aim iv. RESULTS: In 2016/17, 28% of Australian adolescents aged 16-17 were allowed to drink alcohol at home. More adolescents with permission had drunk alcohol in the past month (77% vs. 63% of those without permission). There was no difference in quantity of alcohol consumed in the past week between groups. More adolescents allowed to drink at home had experienced alcohol-related harm compared to those without permission (23% vs. 17%). In multivariable analyses, alcohol consumption by primary parents was associated with an increased likelihood of allowing adolescents to drink at home. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce adolescent alcohol use and associated harms, parents should avoid permitting alcohol use among adolescents at home. Frequent (twice or more/week) primary parental alcohol consumption was especially associated with greater odds of allowing adolescents to drink at home.

Who are Australia's young heavy drinkers? a cross-sectional population study.

OBJECTIVE: In light of the recent declines in youth drinking, the socio-demographic correlates of (1) annual total alcohol consumption (volume) and (2) monthly single occasion risky drinking among underage young people (14-17-year-olds) and young adults (18-24-year-olds) were examined. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (n=1,547). Multivariable negative binomial regression analyses identified the socio-demographic correlates of total annual volume and monthly risky drinking. RESULTS: Those who spoke English as first language reported higher total volume and rates of monthly risky drinking. Not being in school predicted total volume for 14-17-year-olds, as did having a certificate/diploma for 18-24-year-olds. Living in affluent areas predicted a greater total volume for both age groups, and risky drinking for 18-24-year-olds. Young men in regional areas and working in labour and logistics reported higher total volume than young women in the same groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are important differences among young heavy drinkers related to gender, cultural background, socio-economic status, education, regionality and work industry. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Prevention strategies that are sensitively tailored towards high risk groups (e.g. young men in regional areas and working in trade and logistics) may be of public health benefit.

Adolescent and Young Adult Drunkenness and Future Educational Attainment and Labor Market Integration: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: Drunkenness is common among youth and has been linked to injuries and other acute consequences as well as subsequent alcohol problems. Less is known about the long-term consequences of drunkenness regarding future education and labor market integration, and how risk changes during the developmental course. We identified trajectories of drunkenness from early adolescence to young adulthood and examined how drunkenness was associated with subsequent outcomes in the domains of education, income, unemployment, and disability. METHOD: We used four-wave longitudinal data from 3,116 participants (1,428 men; 1,688 women) from the population-based Young in Norway Study (ages 13 to 31). Questionnaire data on drunkenness were linked to register data on subsequent educational and occupational outcomes. RESULTS: The frequency of drunkenness during the past 12 months increased from ages 13 to 21, followed by a levelling off and decline from age 25 to 31. Early drunkenness (at age 13) was related to lower educational attainment, lower income, and higher risk for disability and unemployment at age 32; yet, after control for covariates, most of these associations became nonsignificant. Later drunkenness (>21 years) was either not associated or inversely associated with educational and employment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the effect of drunkenness changes during the developmental course. In early teenage years, drunkenness seems to be a marker of risk and is linked to poor educational outcomes and weak labor market integration. From the early twenties, drunkenness instead seems to be related to positive educational and work-related outcomes.

Drinking in the home: What does it entail for younger and older Finns?

INTRODUCTION: Studies about drinking in homes are scarce despite the growing importance of the phenomenon. We examined how often different age groups in Finland drink-overall or to intoxication-in their own homes without company beyond the family and in their own or other people's homes with other company, compared to other settings, and on what days and hours of the week this occurs. METHODS: A general population survey carried out in 2016 with event-level data (n = 7124 occasions by 1955 respondents). Key measurements included location, drinking company, amount of alcohol drunk and time of the week. RESULTS: Drinking occasions in which alcohol was drunk at home without visitors made up 74% of all occasions and 73% of all intoxication occasions among people aged 60-79 years and 25% and 5% among 15- to 29-year-olds, respectively. The share of 'with company' occasions in somebody's home varied less by age. Occasions with pre/post drinking in homes and drinking occasions lasting until late at night were seen most often among 15- to 29-year-olds. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The important aspects of home drinking vary greatly by age group and depending on what risk or type of consequence is considered. For older people and for chronic harm, the key aspect is drinking at home without company beyond the family. The more important aspect for younger people and acute harm is pre- and post-drinking in homes before or after going to bars or nightclubs, which results in long evenings with large amounts of alcohol consumed.

Understanding the associations between personality traits and the frequency of alcohol intoxication in young males and females: Findings from the United Kingdom.

The problem of alcohol intoxication is growing and expanding worldwide, which has numerous adverse health and psychological consequences. Thus, it is unsurprising that there are so many efforts made toward underlying the psychological determinants of alcohol intoxication. While some research found that the belief in drinking is important, other research considers personality traits as a risk factor for alcohol consumption and intoxication, which is backed by empirical evidence. However, previous studies classified individuals as binge drinkers or non-binge drinkers (i.e., binary). Thus, it remains unclear how the Big Five personality traits may relate to the frequency of alcohol intoxication in young people aged between 16 and 21 years old, who are more vulnerable to alcohol intoxication. By using two ordinal logistic regressions on 656 young males with a mean age of 18.50±1.63 years old and 630 female drinkers with a mean age of 18.49±1.55 years old who have ever been intoxicated during the past four weeks from Wave 3 (collected via face-to-face interviews or online surveys between 2011 and 2012) UKHLS (United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Study), the current research found that Extraversion has a positive association with the frequency of alcohol intoxication in both male (OR = 1.35, p < 0.01, 95 % C.I. [1.13, 1.61]) and female (OR = 1.29, p = 0.01, 95 % C.I. [1.06, 1.57]) drinkers whereas only Conscientiousness (OR = 0.75, p < 0.01, 95 % C.I. [0.61, 0.91]) is negatively connected to the frequency of alcohol intoxication in female drinkers.