NCJ Number
167421
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (Autumn 1996) Pages: 546-566
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The relationships among alcohol consumption and intoxication, stressors, and injury in urban violence were investigated in parallel case control and cohort studies of injured people presenting at the Bristol Royal Infirmary's Accident and Emergency Department in England.
Abstract
Alcohol consumption and intoxication were assessed using the breath analysis and diary method, stressors were analyzed using the Holmes and Rahle Life Style Score, and injury severity was calculated using four injury severity indexes. The Glasgow Coma Score was measured the effect of alcohol on brain function. Cases could not be differentiated from controls on the basis of experiencing major life events or minor stressors in the period prior to injury or on the basis of age, employment status, social class, and types of relationships formed with peers or sexual partners. Cases drank more during an average weekend than controls, drank more on each weekend drinking session than controls, and were more likely to binge drink compared to controls. Consumption of more than 10 units of alcohol in the 6 hours prior to assault and blood alcohol levels of greater than 160 mgm per 100 ml were associated with injury. While blood alcohol concentration and injury severity were significantly related to levels of alcohol consciousness, there was no significant relationship between injury severity and blood alcohol concentration. Study results suggest that heavy binge drinking increases vulnerability to injury. 52 references, 6 tables, and 1 figure