**5.2 Intoxication characteristics and alcohol use patterns**

On average, the adolescents admitted to hospital had a blood alcohol concentration of around 1.80 g/L. Depending on age, body weight, gender, tolerance and drug use, this represents an alcohol consumption of about 15 units.


\* Blood Alcohol Concentration (grams of alcohol / liter blood)

Table 2. Intoxication characteristics

On average, reduced consciousness lasted for two to three hours (also known as alcohol coma). In 2010, one youngster stayed in a coma for 48 hours.

Questionnaires on the pattern of alcohol use demonstrate that more alcohol is consumed during weekends (0-15 units a day in the weekend, vs. 0-5 units on a week day). For 30% of the patients, the alcohol consumption is their first time; the other 70% do have experience in consuming alcoholic beverages. Most often they consumed beer (59%), followed by distilled spirits. Drinking locations mainly involve a friend's (54%) or parent's home (30%), but,

A New Approach in Adolescent Alcohol Intoxication –

and adolescent needs to be clarified further.

always be screened for substance abuse (18).

who work in a store.

expenses (22-24).

alcohol abuse (30).

has been found to lead to a relatively lower sensitivity to alcohol.

Clinical Pediatric Experience and Research Combined 223

offering alcohol to their underage children. Parents who set strict alcohol-specific rules early on delay the age of onset and reduce the frequency and quantity of adolescent alcohol consumption (14) (Koning). A strict attitude of parents towards alcohol diminishes adolescents' involvement in alcohol use. To positively influence problematic alcohol use in their children, parental attitude should be addressed in the treatment of these patients.

Parental attachment can be another factor of interest in parental involvement. It has been described that poor parental attachment is related to an earlier onset of drinking. The inverse explanation can be that the younger the adolescent starts using alcohol, the less strong the attachment with the parents is (13). The influence of the relation between parent

A family history of alcohol use is associated with more alcohol consumption in adolescents; and with even higher transmission between parents and adolescents of the same gender (15). Alcoholism of the parents is associated with heavy drinking and binge drinking patterns during adolescence (16). The explanation of these tendencies can be found in the direct exposure to alcohol, as well as in assimilating certain standards and beliefs on alcohol use. Adolescents tend to imitate role models. On the other hand, a positive family history

Students living with peers during their college years drink more alcohol (17). Peer influence is a risk factor in many risk-seeking attitudes, such as smoking, substance abuse and sexual risk behavior. Children are particularly prone to the influence of peers during adolescence. Also, underage drinkers can gain access to alcohol through peers by having older friends

Alcohol use is related to substance use. Cannabis in particular is common, but amphetamines are used as well, as are ecstasy, happy mushrooms and cocaine. Cooccurrence is common and therefore patients admitted with alcohol intoxication should

Cultural influences are connected to local politics, either nationally- or statewide. Determining legal drinking age has a strong influence on the availability of alcohol for adolescents (19;20). However, this seems to be just one of several factors to be considered. A prosperous society and a change in the available types of drinks are likely to have an effect on alcohol consumption. An increase in drinking among youngsters has been observed in the past decade (21). For Dutch adolescents purchasing alcohol is one of the leading

The relationship between alcohol or substance abuse and psychiatric disorders such as ADHD is described as a consequence as well as a cause (25;26). Symptoms like physical aggression, conduct disorders and violence as well as hyperactivity and oppositional behaviors at a young age appear to be risk factors for alcohol use in later life (27). In particular, higher quantities of alcohol consumption have been associated with a lack of restraint (disinhibition) (28;29). The interpretation of these associations can be causal and consequential and are interesting subjects of research still to be carried out. Depression and anxiety disorders in relation to alcohol use are mainly studies in adult populations (and not in adolescents or children). However, depression occurs more frequently in patients with

strikingly, 35% of the adolescents treated with alcohol intoxication have been served alcohol in the catering industry (as well). Adolescents report that their parents 'know to some extent ' or even 'know exactly' how much alcohol they drink.
