Alcohol use disorder symptoms and risk-taking behavior as predictors of alcohol-related medical events among young adults treated in emergency departments.

BACKGROUND

Studies of alcohol-positive patients in emergency departments are not clear on the relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms and risk for injury.

METHOD: Two-hundred three young adults (118 males (58%); mean age = 19.4 years) who were treated in two Level-1 emergency departments (ED) received comprehensive psychiatric interviews and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE).

RESULTS

Males diagnosed with the AUD symptom of "drinking more or over a longer period than intended" are at greatest risk for requiring emergency care for an alcohol-related medical problem (OR = 10.8, 95% CI = 1.2,94.3, p < .04). Risk-taking behaviors increase risk for an alcohol-related medical event for both genders (OR = 2.6, 95% CI=1.1,5.6.1, p < .03). Alcohol use disorder severity related negatively to risk for experiencing an alcohol-related medical problem (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4,0.9, p < .04).

CONCLUSIONS

Young adults treated for alcohol-related medical problems often exhibit DSM-IV defined symptoms of AUD and are engaging in risk-taking behaviors and should be referred for an in-depth assessment of alcohol use disorders and risk-taking activities.