Citation

Abel EL, Zeidenberg P. J. Stud. Alcohol 1985; 46(3): 228-231.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

4010300

Abstract

A detailed examination of the files of the medical examiner's office of Erie County, New York, for 1973-1983 inclusive was conducted with respect to cause of death, age of victim and presence of alcohol in the blood at time of death. In 48.6% of the traffic accidents the victim had been drinking compared with 38.9% miscellaneous accidents (e.g., drowning, falling), 45.2% homicides and 35.4% suicides. Among those aged 15-19, 42.7% of these violent deaths were alcohol related compared with 51.1% of those aged 20-24, 48.6% of those 25-34, 49.1% of those 35-44 and 47.2% of those 45-54. The data indicate that alcohol is involved to a considerable extent in all major categories of violent death for all age cohorts, especially for traffic accident victims aged 35 and under.

Language: en