Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

From Pubs to Scrubs: Alcohol Misuse and Health Care Use
Health Services Research Volume 44 Issue 5p1, Pages 1480 - 1503

To analyze the relationships between alcohol misuse and two types of acute health care use—hospital admissions and emergency room (ER) episodes.

Frequent drinking to intoxication was positively associated with hospital admissions for both men and women and increased the likelihood of using ER services for women. Alcohol dependence and/or abuse was related to higher use of ER services for both genders and increased hospitalizations for men.

These findings provide updated and nationally representative estimates of the relationships between alcohol misuse and health care use, and they underscore the potential implications of alcohol misuse on health care expenditures.


Request Reprint E-Mail: mfrench@miami.edu.

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