Citation

Stevenson MR, D'Alessandro P, Bourke J, Legge M, Lee AH. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Public Health 2003; 27(3): 328-332.

Affiliation

Injury Research Centre, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009. marks@dph.uwa.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Public Health Association of Australia, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14705288

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To elicit whether drivers involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes are more likely to have future alcohol-related hospital admissions. METHOD: A population-based cohort study of 3,286 drivers involved in a motor vehicle crash between 1988 and 1992 were followed over an eight to 13-year period. RESULTS: The findings from the study suggest a twofold increased risk associated with an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash and future alcohol-related hospital admission. The average time between an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash and future alcohol-related hospital admission was 12 years. Men and indigenous Australian drivers were more likely to have a future alcohol-related hospital admission. CONCLUSION: It is evident from this study that drink-driving resulting in a motor vehicle crash and hospitalisation could be considered an indicator of a less overt problem of alcohol dependency. IMPLICATIONS: It is important that penalties for drink-driving go beyond merely punitive action and provide rehabilitation.