The frequency of alcoholisation among young people injured in accidents in France.

In a nation-wide epidemiological survey carried out in France in 1982-1983, blood alcohol concentration was systematically measured in 1423 young casualties (aged 15-24 years) on their arrival in the emergency room. Traffic accidents accounted for almost half of the admissions, and they were the most severe, with over 10% requiring hospitalisation with vital risk. A quarter of the admissions was female; on average, their blood alcohol concentration was low and not statistically related to age. Conversely, among young male casualties, 1 out of 5 had a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.50 g/l (11 mmol/l) and 1 out of 15 was classified as a chronic heavy drinker. It is of note that alcohol was implicated in 43% of the car/truck accidents of the young men and that blood alcohol concentration as well as the proportion of chronic drinkers were strongly related to age. Alcohol consumption may begin as early as 15 years; in the young men 15-24 years, only 7% were chronic drinkers whereas in men over 24, 37% were chronic drinkers. On this basis, it is appropriate to focus education about alcohol consumption on adolescents, particularly men.