Citation

Kharasch SJ, McBride DR, Saitz R, Myers WP. Addict. Sci. Clin. Pract. 2016; 11(1): e11.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, One Boston Medical Center Place, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, U. S. National Institute on Drug Abuse)

DOI

10.1186/s13722-016-0059-4

PMID

27277284

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2009, a university adopted a policy of emergency department transport of students appearing intoxicated on campus. The objective was to describe the change in ED referrals after policy initiation and describe a group of students at risk for acute alcohol-related morbidity.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort of university students during academic years 2007-2011 (September-June) transported to local ED's was evaluated. Data were compared 2 years prior to initiation of the policy and 3 years after and included total number of ED transports and blood or breath alcohol level.

RESULTS: 971 Students were transported to local ED's. The mean number of yearly transports 2 years prior to policy initiation was 131 and 3 years after was 236 (56 % increase, p < 0.01). 92 % had a blood or breath alcohol level obtained. The mean alcohol level was 193 mg/dL. Twenty percent of students had alcohol levels greater than 250 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of a university alcohol policy was followed by a significant increase in ED transports of intoxicated students. College students identified as intoxicated frequently drank to toxicity.

Language: en