NCJ Number
207877
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: 2004 Pages: 41-60
Date Published
2004
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined trends in three types of fatal injuries linked with alcohol use among youth under the legal drinking age compared with adults over the period 1990-98.
Abstract
The types of fatal injuries examined were homicide, suicide, and motor-vehicle traffic deaths. Data for these three types of fatalities were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's WISQARS Web site, an interactive system designed to inform research and public health practice. Although WISQARS includes information on all causes of fatal injuries from 1990 through 1998, it does not contain information on prior alcohol intake; therefore, the study limited its analysis to three types of fatal injuries that previous research has shown to have significant alcohol involvement. The study found that motor-vehicle traffic deaths and homicide were higher among youth under the legal drinking age than among adults of legal drinking age. Suicide, however, was more common among adults than among youth. African-American, Hispanic, and American-Indian male youth under the legal drinking age were at substantial risk for being victims of homicide and motor-vehicle traffic deaths. Study limitations are discussed, as are several promising alcohol policies likely to reduce the three types of fatalities examined. 3 tables and 38 references