PREDICTION OF ALCOHOL-RELATED CASUALTIES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM - A UNITED-STATES-SPAIN COMPARISON

Alcohol consumption variables predictive of casualties are compared in probability samples of emergency room (ER) patients in two countries with different drinking patterns: (1) Spain, where frequent light drin king is the typical pattern (N = 2,072), and (2) the U.S. (i.e., Calif ornia), where less frequent heavier drinking is more typical (N = 1,75 6). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the predictive value of b reath-analyzer readings, drinking patterns and problems, time and plac e of injury, and demographic characteristics on ER admission for injur ies vs noninjuries and for alcohol-related injuries vs non-alcohol-rel ated injuries. Quantity and frequency of drinking, time and place of i njury, and feeling drunk at the time of the event were predictive of c asualties in California. Drinking patterns were less predictive of inj ury occurrence and of alcohol-related injury in Spain. One possible ex planation for this difference may be that drinking is integrated into society as part of the wine drinking culture in Spain, while in the U. S. drinking occasions are more circumscribed by appropriateness of tim e and place.