(STAP



(STAP.vert.alc.intox.jongeren)

PRESS RELEASE

November 10, 2010.

Number of alcohol-intoxications in youngsters in the Netherlands keeps on growing

The number of youngsters with an acute alcohol-poisoning has once more increased. This appears from data that are collected by the Dutch Paediatricians. During the first half of 2010 356 youngsters were admitted to the Emergency Department of a general hospital after excessive alcohol-use.. During the past year there were in total 500 cases. In 2007 the Dutch paediatricians started with a registration-system for youngsters up to the age of 18 years who had alcohol in their blood on admission. With nearly all treated youngsters, alcohol-use is also the main reason for admission either with alcohol-intoxication or an alcohol induced coma.

Total number of report

Table 1 shows the number of cases reported by paediatricians as needing treatment. It is noticeable that in 2010 the number of cases has grown compared with 2007. If the second half of 2010 continues at the same rate as the first half of the year, the number of young people having been treated will be about 700, a rise of as much as 40% compared to 2009. At the beginning of November 2010 the number of reports amounts to 526.

Table 1: Survey of number of reports:

2007 2008 2009 2010 (up to June***)

Number of reports of alcohol related

emergency admissions 297 337 500 356

Rise with regard to preceding year -- 13% 48% 40%*

Number of usable questionnaires (respons) 231 288 440 308**

* Estimation 2010 on the basis of the first half 2010.

** Provisional number; about 2010 yet some questionnaires will follow and be processed.

*** By November 526.

Characteristics of the intoxicated youngsters

In all years the ratio of boys and girls is about 50-50. The age of the youngsters varies from 11 up to and including 17 years, with an average age of just over 15 years. Most of the treated youngsters attend the VMBO-(lower-level) education (over 40%) with HAVO-(middle-level) education (over 20%) and VWO-(higher-level) education (15%). The percentages per school-type are comparable with the average division per school-type of Dutch youngsters.

Table 2: Characteristics youngsters and degree of intoxication

| | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |

|Average age | 15,3 | 15,0 | 15,2 | 15,3 |

|Measured average alcohol | | | | |

|permillage |1,8 |1,9 |1,8 |1,8 |

|Average duration decreased | | | | |

|consciousness |2,2 hours |2,9 hours |3,1 hours |3,0 hours |

|Maximum duration decreased | | | | |

|consciousness |16 hours |24 hours |22 hours |48 hours |

Physicians have established with the admitted children an average blood-alcohol-level of over 1,8 permillage. This represents 10 to 15 glasses of alcoholic drink in the blood. The youngsters are on average unconscious for 3 hours. With 80% of the youngsters it was necessary to apply an infusion.

Paediatrician Nico van der Lely:

“The hope to see in the hospitals fewer s children with an alcohol-poisoning has no been t confirmed. We see not only more and more alcohol-poisonings but also alcohol related injuries, sexual abuse and intellectual damage. The necessity to open more outpatients alcohol clinics for young people is evident”.

Compliance with age-limits.

Just like in the preceding years, in 2010 it also appears that a considerable number of intoxications could have been prevented if the age-limits for alcoholic beverages would be better enforced. The number of youngsters under the 16 year who were admitted during the first 6 months of 2010 amounted 172 (56%; in total 308 questionnaires). From this group 52 youngsters have bought alcohol for themselves in the supermarket, off licence or at a catering outlet, as no alcohol should be supplied to them. In total there were 32 youngsters, 16 and 17 year olds who had bought themselves strong drink in an off licence or at a catering outlet while for this supply the legal age-limit of 18 year applies.

Researcher Joris van Hoof

“Research shows that compliance figures with age-limits not only is a statistical number, but that bad compliance actually can have serious consequences for public health. In 2010 hospital admission of 84 youngsters possibly could have been avoided if the sellers had complied with the legal age-limits, A legal age-limit of 18 year also could reduce the problems of youngsters.

Justification

As soon as a youngster with an alcohol-poisoning is admitted and reported, the paediatrician receives a questionnaire. The questionnaire is not always sent back. On the basis of the submitted questionnaires further analysis of the concerning emergency-admittance is being undertaken.

The registration of youngsters with an alcohol-poisoning is an initiative of the Dutch Signalizing Centre for Paediatrics (NSCK), TNO Quality of Life, Bouman GGZ (mental health), the Reinier de Graaf Groep (a hospital in Delft), the Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy (STAP) and the Twente University, department of Communication Science

.

For Information

- Twente University: drs. Joris van Hoof; 053 489 6131

- The Dutch Institute for Alcohol Policy (STAP) : Ir. Wim van Dalen; 0653295544

- Reinier de Graaf Groep: Dr Nico van der Lely, via press officer; tel. 015 2603352

- TNO Quality of Life & Bouman GGZ (mental health): Rob Rodrigues Pereira.

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