Alcohol and the accident and emergency department: a current review

Alcohol Alcohol. 2002 Jul-Aug;37(4):307-12. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/37.4.307.

Abstract

Alcohol misuse constitutes a major problem in our modern society and both physical and mental alcohol-related harm result in a large number of Accident and Emergency (A&E) attendances, thus imposing a significant burden on the workload and financial resources of the department. The current management of problem drinking by most A&E departments could be further improved. The introduction of a holistic approach that includes efficient screening instruments and effective brief, anti-alcoholic interventions, for the management of these patients must be considered. This should strengthen the preventive role of A&E departments, and, in the long term, may result in a decrease in the number of cases of alcohol misuse and in alcohol-related attendances.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidents*
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / economics
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Emergencies
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / economics*
  • Humans