Ten Years of Alcohol Intoxication in Adolescents and Treatment in Paediatric Departments in Dutch Hospitals

Abstract

Aim: Alcohol intoxication in children and adolescents is a severe health concern in current paediatrics. In this longitudinal study, we monitored the intake and treatment of 5,323 adolescents in the Departments of Paediatrics in Dutch hospitals from 2007 to 2016. Methods: From 2007 to 2016, we collected data on all adolescents (inclusion criteria: age younger than 18 and a positive BAC) treated by a papediatrician in a hospital. Within the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System (NSCK), pediatricians report adolescents and complete a questionnaire, making use of a patient interview. Results: In total, 5,323 adolescents were treated, mainly (4,674; 88%) for severe alcohol intoxication; the mean age was 15.4 years, and 52% were boys. The average BAC level increased during the study period (1.82 in 2007 to 2.01 in 2016), and the average reduced consciousness time lasted from 2.24 hours in 2007 to 3.12 hours in 2016. The attitudes of the parents changed over the years: in 2011 (first year of registration for this measure), 24% of the parents did not give permission to their under-aged son or daughter to drink alcohol; however, in 2016, this number had increased to 58%. Conclusion: Alcohol intoxication treatment in adolescents remains an important issue. This dataset enables us to conduct longitudinal analyses on the characteristics of alcohol intoxication in adolescents, the medical treatment, and the events leading up to the intoxication.