Citation

Giles HG, Sandrin S. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 1992; 16(4): 670-672.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1530-0277.1992.tb00657.x

PMID

1530128

Abstract

We examined the involvement of alcohol consumption, chronic alcohol abuse or dependence, the soundness of the police determination of alcohol-related intoxication, and the importance of other drugs in deaths in police custody in a survey of the cases reported to the Chief Coroner of Ontario during the past 10 years. The data suggest no mismanagement by the police. At least 86% of the fatalities were associated with recent alcohol consumption or chronic alcohol abuse/dependence. Use of drugs other than alcohol was far less common. Promoting use and further development of simple tests to estimate blood alcohol concentration, chronic alcohol problems, and suicide risk, before incarceration takes place, may save lives.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Aged; Alcoholic Intoxication; Alcoholism; Cause of Death; Ethanol; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ontario; Prisoners; Psychotropic Drugs; Social Control, Formal; Substance-Related Disorders