To monitor the prevalence of, and the circumstances leading to, adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions in Dutch hospital departments of pediatrics.
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.
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.
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.
Request Reprint E-Mail: j.j.vanhoof@utwente.nl
