PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH FRESH TRAUMA AFTER INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE .1. ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE-ABUSE

Background. Patients presenting with fresh trauma frequently have evid ence of substance abuse, Nevertheless, few South African studies have measured the levels of both alcohol and other substances in patients p resenting with fresh trauma after interpersonal violence. Methods. A r epresentative sample of patients presenting with fresh trauma to the T rauma Unit of Tygerberg Hospital was selected for study. Subjects were questioned about the nature of the trauma and breath alcohol concentr ations were determined. Blood and urine samples for analysis of alcoho l and other substances were obtained from approximately half the subje cts. Results. Alcohol was found to be present in a majority of patient s who presented after interpersonal violence, while other substances w ere present less commonly. There was a high correlation between clinic al history of alcohol use, breath analysis of alcohol and blood alcoho l measurement. Conclusions. Alcohol use plays a significant role in tr auma due to interpersonal violence. It is essential to screen victims of interpersonal violence for a history of alcohol and other substance s. Breath analysis for alcohol is a useful adjunct to clinical screeni ng.