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February 13, 2006

Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN):
- During 2004, an estimated 142,701 alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visits were made by patients aged 12 to 20.
- Nearly half (42%) of drug-related ED visits among patients aged 12 to 20 involved alcohol.
- Patients aged 18 to 20 were approximately 3 times as likely as patients aged 12 to 17 to have an alcohol-related ED visit.
- Visits involving alcohol with other drugs were almost 2 times as likely as visits involving only alcohol to result in admission to the hospital for inpatient care (19% vs. 10%).

Posted by Gary Holden at February 13, 2006 8:51 AM