Background: Studies of alcohol-positive patients in emergency departments are not clear on the relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms and risk for injury.
Method: Two-hundred three young adults (118 males (58%); mean age = 19.4 years) who were treated in two Level-1 emergency departments (ED) received comprehensive psychiatric interviews and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE).
Results: Males diagnosed with the AUD symptom of "drinking more or over a longer period than intended" are at greatest risk for requiring emergency care for an alcohol-related medical problem (OR = 10.8, 95% CI = 1.2,94.3, p < .04). Risk-taking behaviors increase risk for an alcohol-related medical event for both genders (OR = 2.6, 95% CI=1.1,5.6.1, p < .03). Alcohol use disorder severity related negatively to risk for experiencing an alcohol-related medical problem (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4,0.9, p < .04).
Conclusions: Young adults treated for alcohol-related medical problems often exhibit DSM-IV defined symptoms of AUD and are engaging in risk-taking behaviors and should be referred for an in-depth assessment of alcohol use disorders and risk-taking activities.