Perspectives in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Alcohol and Fatal Injuries -- Fulton County, Georgia, 1982
Because homicides, suicides, and fatal injuries are among the
leading causes of premature loss of life in the United States (1),
a
surveillance system was recently initiated in several counties in
Georgia to identify the extent to which factors such as alcohol and
drug abuse are associated with fatal injuries. As an initial
effort,
a retrospective survey was conducted to ascertain the blood alcohol
content (BAC) of all victims of fatal injury events that occurred
in
Fulton County* in 1982.
Investigators' reports from the Fulton County Medical
Examiner's
office were reviewed for all persons classified as homicides,
suicides, or victims of unintentional fatal injuries. Ninety-five
percent of victims who died within 6 hours of the injury event had
BACs obtained by the medical examiner and were included in data
analysis. (BAC has been shown less likely to be obtained and if
obtained, less meaningful, when death occurs more than 6 hours
after
the injury event (2,3).) The Georgia Department of Public Safety's
accident report forms were also reviewed to obtain information on
the
BACs of drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) that
resulted in fatal injuries to pedestrians or vehicle occupants.
Sixty-six (51%) of 129 homicide victims who died within 6 hours
of
injury were legally intoxicated (BAC 0.1 g% or greater) at the time
of
death (Figure 1); 80% were male, and 82% were black. Seventy-seven
percent of black males and 71% of white males had been drinking
before
the injury event (BAC greater than 0). Of those who committed
suicide, 18 (20%) of the 90 victims were legally intoxicated at the
time of death (Figure 2), and 34 (38%) had been drinking.
Sixty-five
percent of the 90 victims were white males.
In 1982, 78 Fulton County MVA victims died within 6 hours of
the
event. At least one driver was legally intoxicated in 39 (85%) of
46
MVAs in which drivers' BACs were collected (Figure 3), and 42 (91%)
involved drivers who had been drinking. Thirty-two (82%) of
legally
intoxicated drivers were at least 25 years old, and 30 (77%) were
male. Six (38%) of 16 pedestrian victims were legally intoxicated.
For nonvehicular accidents (NVA), the data base is small; six
of
10 victims of fire, eight (57%) of 14 victims of accidental drug
ingestion or overdose, three (27%) of 11 victims of carbon monoxide
poisoning, and five (36%) of 14 victims of drowning were legally
intoxicated. Overall, for NVAs, 27 (38%) of 71 victims were
legally
intoxicated, and 34 (48%) had been drinking.
Reported by Georgia Epidemiology Report (Sept. 1983), RK Sikes,
DVM,
State Epidemiologist, Georgia Dept of Human Resources; Div of
Surveillance and Epidemiologic Studies, Epidemiology Program
Office,
CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: The significance of alcohol as a contributor to
fatal
injuries may vary from place to place and over time. These data
suggest that, in Fulton County in 1982, alcohol abuse may have
factored in many of the fatal injuries, both intentional and
unintentional. The striking differences in the frequencies of
homicide and suicide between blacks and whites may reflect
differences
in the socioeconomic status of these groups in Fulton County.
A major 1990 Health Objective for the Nation is reduction of
the
adverse health consequences associated with alcohol abuse, which
includes injury and death to others as well as to the individual
who
misuses alcohol (e.g., MVAs, fires, carbon monoxide poisonings)
(4).
At a local level, ongoing surveillance of alcohol-related fatal
injuries can increase public awareness of the extent of the problem
and provide mental- and physical-health programs, law-enforcement
agencies, and policymakers with an increased ability to plan
intervention strategies and to monitor the effectiveness of
programs
designed to deter alcohol misuse.
References
CDC. Premature death--United States. MMWR 1983;32:118-9.
Adelson L. The pathology of homicide: a vade mecum for
pathologist, prosecutor and defense counsel. Springfield,
Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1974:883-918.
Haddon W Jr, Valien P, McCarroll JR, Umberger CJ. A controlled
investigation of the characteristics of adult pedestrians
fatally
injured by motor vehicles in Manhattan. J Chron Dis
1961;14:655-78.
U.S. Public Health Service. Promoting health/preventing
disease:
objectives for the nation. U.S. Public Health Service, 1980.
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