Alcohol risk drinking, quality of life and health state among patients treated at the Sobering Unit in the emergency department – One year follow-up study

Alcohol-related negative health effects are common among patients visiting emergency departments (Forsythe and Lee, 2012). It has been estimated that in any Finnish emergency department about one third of the patients are under the influence of alcohol or drugs or are alcohol abusers (Kantonen et al., 2006); the numbers are similar in the US (Cunningham et al., 2010). In the UK, significant numbers of adults attend emergency departments as a direct result of alcohol consumption. Short-term harms include serious accidents, assaults, domestic violence, collapse and psychiatric problems (House of Commons UK, 2009).
Source: International Emergency Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Source Type: research