Authors: Cheryl J. Cherpitel¹; Jacek Moskalewicz²; Grazyna Swiatkiewicz²

Source: Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 39, Number 3, May 2004 , pp. 256-261(6)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Aims: To examine drinking patterns and problems in emergency services in Poland, where both alcohol consumption and the health care system have undergone enormous recent change. Methods: A probability sample of 734 emergency service patients was breathalyzed and interviewed in a large public hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Results: 2.5% of the sample was breathalyzer positive; all were male and injured. Injured males were significantly more likely to report heavy problem drinking than non-injured, but no differences were found for females. Among injured males who reported drinking prior to the event, close to 50% reported feeling drunk, and over 75% attributed a causal association of their drinking with injury. Conclusions: These data point to substantial alcohol-involvement on the part of injured males in this population, and suggest emergency services may be a productive venue for identifying those patients who would benefit from a brief intervention.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agh053

Affiliations: 1: Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA and 2: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland

Publication date: 2004-05-01

More about this publication?

• Alcohol and Alcoholism publishes papers on biomedical, psychological and sociological aspects of alcoholism and alcohol research, provided that they make a new and significant contribution to knowledge in the field. Papers include new results obtained experimentally, descriptions of new experimental (including clinical) methods of importance to the field of alcohol research and treatment, or new interpretations of existing results. Theoretical contributions are considered equally with papers dealing with experimental work provided that such theoretical contribution are not of a largely speculative or philosophical nature. Alcohol and Alcoholism is the official journal of the Medical Council on Alcohol.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Neurology & Psychiatry ,  Social & Public Welfare
• By this author: Cheryl J. Cherpitel ;  Jacek Moskalewicz ;  Grazyna Swiatkiewicz

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers