Alcohol, Drugs, and Head Injury

Abstract

To the Editor.— Jacobson and colleagues (Pediatrics 1986;77:236-24l) present a convincing case for comprehensive reassessment of adolescents with serious closed head injuries. However, they make no mention of evaluating such patients for drug or alcohol abuse. Such abuse/dependency can contribute significantly to the etiology of traumatic injuries. We interviewed 202 middle-class adolescents in treatment for drug/alcohol abuse/dependency: 86 (43%) had been involved in at least one motor vehicle accident while intoxicated by drugs, alcohol, or both; 50% had been involved in more than one such incident.