[Ten years of alcohol intoxication among young people in The Netherlands]. / 10 jaar alcoholintoxicaties bij jongeren.

OBJECTIVE: To provide insight into the number of adolescents admitted to hospital with alcohol intoxication in the period 2007-2016. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. METHODS: We used data from the hospital admissions for alcohol intoxication among minors that had been reported to the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance System (NSCK). We also used data on minors who had been admitted to hospital for other alcohol-related reasons. RESULTS: In the period 2007-2016, 4,674 minors were admitted to a hospital in the Netherlands with alcohol intoxication. The number of minors admitted with alcohol intoxication increased annually from 2007 to 2011, after which it became reasonably stable, with a peak in 2015. The average age at which a minor was admitted increased (2007: 14.9 years; 2016: 15.5 years), and this also applied to the duration of loss of consciousness (2007: 2.24 hours; 2016: 3.12 hours). Parents of young people admitted with alcohol intoxication have become markedly stricter; 69% had given permission for consumption of alcohol in 2011; in 2016 that had decreased to 19%. CONCLUSION: Raising the minimum age for obtaining low-alcohol drinks, the creation of better awareness of the consequences of alcohol use and the opening of the Outpatient Adolescents and Alcohol Clinics seem to have had an effect. The average age of young people with alcohol intoxication has increased and parents have become stricter, but binge-drinking is still a serious problem. Further research is needed into characteristics and treatment of the group of young people who end up in hospital.

Adolescent alcohol intoxication in the Dutch hospital departments of pediatrics: a 2-year comparison study.

PURPOSE: To monitor the prevalence of, and the circumstances leading to, adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions in Dutch hospital departments of pediatrics. METHODS: Data were collected in 2007 and 2008, using the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System, in which pediatricians received questionnaires on varying issues, including adolescent alcohol intoxication admissions. RESULTS: The adolescents treated in 2008, as in 2007, were average youth across proportion of gender, educational level, school performances, family structure, siblings, familiarity with medical or aid agencies, alcohol use, and other (illicit) drug use. In 2008, 13% more adolescents were treated. These adolescents showed a trend of having a younger average age, higher blood alcohol concentrations, and longer durations of mental impairment. About 45% of the adolescents who were treated for alcohol intoxication had purchased alcohol from a commercial place, despite that 51 times the specific adolescent had not reached the legal age of 16 years old. About one-third of the youngsters consumed alcohol at home or at a friend's home. CONCLUSIONS: The number of adolescents suffering from alcohol intoxication increased in 2008 compared with 2007. Parental (lack of) involvement and responsibilities of commercial sales personnel are discussed.

Adolescent alcohol intoxication in the Dutch hospital Departments of Pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the number and characteristics of adolescent alcohol intoxication cases in hospital Departments of Pediatrics. The study also analyzes drinking patterns and intoxication characteristics. METHOD: Data were collected using the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System, in which about 92% of general pediatricians and 83% of academic pediatricians participate. In 2007, questionnaires were collected every month within 56 hospitals. A total of 297 adolescent alcohol intoxications were reported, of which 231 cases were analyzed. RESULTS: Hospital-admitted adolescents in this study are 12-18 years old, with an average age of 15.3 years. Intoxicated adolescents appear to be a representative sample of the Dutch population on all background variables (gender, educational level, family structure). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the serious nature of adolescent intoxication and may indicate that more strict governmental alcohol control policies are required.