Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology1816-496x2152-100xAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/jpt.2006.157.166SharmaB.R. SharmaAnup K. SharmaSwati GuptaNeha GuptaAlka 2200612Intoxication in general and alcohol use in particular, is an important predisposing factor in a wide variety of fatal as well as non-fatal injuries. The present study, a retrospective analysis of intoxicated trauma victims reporting to two tertiary health care level hospitals in Chandigarh, India, was aimed at understanding the extent of problem. Hospital records of 236833 patients reporting to the Emergency Department (ED) during the period 2000 to 2004 were analyzed to find the percentage of trauma victims and associated alcohol intoxication. It was noted that 7929 (22%) of the 36768 trauma victims, were alcohol positive at the time of reporting to the ED and required different levels of care. Road traffic accident was the commonest mechanism of injury in 49% patients. It was concluded that not only has the association of alcohol use with aggression and other socially inappropriate behaviors or impaired driving skills and increased crash risk been established, but alcohol use and its associated problems are also responsible, in a major way, for increased financial burden on health-care system.]]>Alvarez, F.J., M.C. Del-Rio and C. Prada,199556403407Alvarez, F.J. and M.C. Del-Rio,1999104117125Alvarez, F.J. and M.C. Del-Rio,200057177182Brismar, B., A. Engstrom and U. Arydberg,19831491114Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI),20022002Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association,1986255522527Del Rio, M.C. and F.J. Alvarez,1995378386Dunn, C.W., D.M. Donovan and L.M. Gentillelo,199742299304Dunn, C. and L.M. Gentilello,200014419428Edwards, G., P. Anderson, T. Babor, S. Caswell, R. Ferrence and N. Glesbrecht,1994English, D.R., D.C.J. Holman, E. Milne, M.G. Winter, G.K. Hulse and J.P. Codde,1995European Commission,20002000Fairey, W.F.,198682536537Gettler, D.T. and F.F. Albritten,1983158151158Hingson, R.W.,200028415271533Jurkovich, J.G., F.P. Rivara and J. Gurney,199221704708Jurkovich, J.G., F.P. Rivara and J. Gurney,19932705156Jurkovich, J.G.,200014385402Maull, K.,198275794798National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts,20022002Perez, F.O., K. Malley and S. Ross,199120500502Roche, A., K. watt, R. McClure, D. Purdie and D. Green,200120155166Rutherford, W.H.,1977110211023Schuckit, M.A.,199859581590Schuckit, M.A.,20005th Edn.,Sharma, B.R., D. Harish and V. Sharma,200141266274Sharma, B.R., G. Singh and D. Harish,20027373376Sharma, B.R., D. Harish and G. Singh,2003252225Sharma, B.R.,200536577585Sharma, B.R.,2005126473Single, E.,200016216691675Skog, O.J.,2001964955Stockwell, T., D.V. Hawks, E. Lang and P. Rydon,199615716Stratton, C.W.,198615226244Verstraete, A.G.,20002000pp: 1222-1227pp: 1222-1227Vinson, D., G. Borges and C. Cherpitel,20036433503357Vinson, D., M. Maclure, C. Reidinger and G. Smith,200364358366Waller, P., R. Stewart and A. Hansen,198625614611466World Health Organization,2000