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Alcohol and InjuriesTime for Action
Arch Fam Med. 1995;4(6):499-501.
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings. |
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ALCOHOL IS strongly associated with death from motor vehicle crashes,1 drownings,2,3 fires and burns,4 suicide,5 and interpersonal violence.6-8 In 1987, an estimated 47 865 people in the United States died from alcohol-related injuries.9 Contrary to conventional wisdom, alcohol is also associated with increased severity of injuries.10 Alcohol abuse increases the risk of complications such as pneumonia during treatment for injury11 and the risk that trauma patients will be readmitted for new injuries.12 Indeed, a history of trauma is used to screen for alcohol abuse.13 It is little wonder that William Foege, MD, MPH, chairman of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Injury Prevention and Control, calls alcohol the "AIDS [acquired immunodeficiency syndrome] virus of injury control" because it "lowers the defenses and immunity to injury."14
GAPS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE
Although alcohol is recognized as an important risk factor for injuries
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