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Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on June 2, 2006
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agl041
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved
Received November 10, 2005
Revised March 17, 2006
Accepted April 11, 2006

Article

ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUG USE AMONG EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS IN THE NETHERLANDS

SALVATORE G. VITALE 1 *, DIKE VAN DE MHEEN 1, ALBERT VAN DE WIEL 2, and HENK F. L. GARRETSEN 3

1 Addiction Research Institute (IVO), Heemraadssingel 194, 3021 DM Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2 Meander Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, PO Box 1502, 3800 BM Amersfoort, The Netherlands
3 Addiction Research Institute (IVO), Heemraadssingel 194, 3021 DM Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
SALVATORE G. VITALE, E-mail: vitale{at}ivo.nl


  Abstract

Aims: To clarify alcohol and illicit drug use within the emergency room population in three different regions in The Netherlands, focusing on whether interventions for these substances should be region specific. Methods: Alcohol and illicit drug use were assessed using a self-report questionnaire filled in by the patients, and by combining self-report with staff judgement on alcohol and illicit drug use. Results: Data on alcohol use (self-reported and staff judgement combined) resulted in prevalence rates of 4.9-18.2%. Patients positive for alcohol are more likely to be male, aged 48-58 years, more likely to be a frequent excessive drinker, and to have injuries as a result of violence. Patients positive for illicit drugs are more likely to be male, aged 28-38 years, unemployed, and frequent excessive drinkers. Among men aged 18-35 years with a Dutch cultural background, some differences emerge regarding alcohol consumption between the various hospitals, but most variation exists in the case of illicit drug use. Conclusions: This paper confirms that the emergency room seems to provide an opportunity to initiate interventions regarding alcohol use and seems to suggest that this is independent of the region concerned. However, in the case of illicit drug use interventions seem to be more region specific.


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