Injury due to an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash (MVC) is a common reason for hospitalisation. This hospitalisation may present an opportunity to change drinking behaviours of non-alcohol-dependent drinkers involved in such injuries, thereby preventing future injury and death. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between alcohol consumption before an injury and attribution of the injury to use of alcohol in non-alcohol-dependent young adults hospitalised for injury due to an alcohol-related MVC. In this sample over 60% of subjects attributed their injury in part or totally to their alcohol consumption. Subjects were aware then of the link between their drinking behaviour and their injury. This awareness indicates that non-alcohol-dependent drinkers involved in an alcohol-related MVC may be receptive to intervention from health professionals to consider changing their drinking behaviour.
Samenvatting