ALCOHOL IN MEDICOLEGAL CASES SEEN AT JORDAN-UNIVERSITY-HOSPITAL

The magnitude of alcohol-associated incidents in relation to medicoleg al cases, including road traffic accidents and acts of violence, has n ot been evaluated in Jordan. Between 1993 and 1995, 825 such cases rec eived at Jordan University Hospital were screened for the presence of alcohol. Blood alcohol was positive in 9.1% of vehicle passengers, 9.6 % of pedestrians, 12.4% of cases involving violence, 13.6% of drivers, 65% of cases brought by police and in 12.5% of other cases. Blood alc ohol concentrations (BAC) ranged from 10-350 mg/dL. BAC of more than 5 0mg/dL was found in 65% and 55% of driver and violence cases respectiv ely, and in 33% to 69% of the other categories. Alcohol may have contr ibuted to some of these incidents. In cases with positive BAG, prior a lcohol intake was frequently denied. There was no association between cases with positive BAC and a particular time, date or occasion.