Characteristics of a Decade of Alcohol Intoxications in Adolescents in Pediatric Departments in Dutch Hospitals

Aim: Admission of adolescents with an alcohol intoxication has become a health concern in current pediatrics. Over the years 2007 till 2016 we conducted a longitudinal study by monitoring the intake and treatment of 5,893 adolescents in all Dutch Pediatric Departments.

Methods: from 2007 till 2016 data were collected on all adolescents (aged younger than 18 and with a positive BAC), treated in all Pediatric Departments in The Netherlands. The Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System (NSCK) consists of a system in which all pediatricians report all admitted adolescents by completing a questionnaire, making use of a patient interview.

Results: 5,893 adolescents were treated in totally, most of them (4,678; 88%) related to severe alcohol intoxication; mean age was 15.4 years, and 48 % were girls. BAC level increased during this period (1.82 in 2007 and 2.01 in 2016), and reduced consciousness lasted from 2.24 hours in 2007 till 3.12 hours in 2016. Of the adolescents with alcohol intoxication, 11.4% had simultaneous drug usage. The attitude of the parents changed during the years: in 2011 (first year of registration) 68% of the parents gave permission to their child to drink alcohol, in 2016 this decreased to only 19%.

Conclusions: The last decades, alcohol intoxication among youngsters has become an important aspect in Pediatrics. The Dutch Surveillance System was used to conduct a longitudinal analyses on alcohol intoxication characteristics, medical treatment and effects of interventions in this group.