Preventing the Consequences of Alcohol Abuse: Identification of Soldiers at High Risk for Fatal and Serious Injuries

Abstract

This report outlines progress made with support from grant #DAMD17-01-1-0676 Preventing the consequences of alcohol abuse: Identification of soldiers at high risk for fatal and serious injuries research project. The goals of this study were to improve our understanding of the risk factors for alcohol-related injury, as well as the long-term consequences of alcohol problems with regard to injuries. Another aim of this study was to obtain, develop and improve datasets and research methodologies so that they can be better used for research and prevention purposes in both the Army and civilian populations. The underlying main hypothesis of this study was that those soldiers with alcohol problems (abuse or dependence) are at greater risk of injury fatality and serious nonfatal injuries. Thus, the identification of alcohol-related problems and subsequent treatment may help reduce the risk of subsequent injuries. Individuals with alcohol-related problems could be identified from existing administrative databases, such as the hospital discharge data, health behavior surveys and alcohol treatment program data. We have described their profiles, documented increased risk for various patterns of intentional and unintentional injuries and documented the long-term sequelae of alcohol-related problems with regard to increased risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. We have also identified protective factors and variations in the causal pathway between alcohol abuse and various injury outcomes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA469548

Entities

People

  • Nicole S. Bell

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Databases
  • Health Services
  • Human Behavior
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Substance-Related Disorders

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Trauma or Military Medicine