RESUMO
The relation between alcohol and hospital admissions and the patterns of use of cigarettes, tranquillisers and sedatives was studied in a sample of 339 consecutive admissions to Northland Base Hospital. Also examined was the usefulness of serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and blood ethanol as screening tests for high alcohol use in general hospital patients. A short multiple choice questionnaire was used, completed answers being obtained from 91.7 percent of the sample; GGT estimations were done on 64 percent and blood ethanol on 38 percent of the sample. Alcohol was considered to be a factor in the admission of at least 6.4 percent of the total sample. Blood ethanol estimations were not found useful as a screening test but GGT had a specificity of at least 27 percent for diagnosing high alcohol use in the general hospital situation. The regular use of tranquillisers and sedatives in elderly non-Maori patients was high but appears rare in Maoris of all ages.